Post by javachip on May 12, 2011 10:06:20 GMT -5
Some people say that pitch-fests, gatherings at which hopeful writers pay money to pitch their scripts to potential buyers, are a good way to get discovered -- possibly a better way than entering contests. I haven't been to a pitch-fest, but it sounds like a speed dating event: a bunch of hopeful writers wait in line to sit down one-on-one with potential buyers and pitch their scripts for five minutes each. How ... undignified!
Recently I spoke with a small-time producer who is scheduled to attend an upcoming, well-publicized pitch-fest as a "potential buyer." He admitted to me that he has no money and cannot buy any scripts. All he hopes to do at the pitch-fest is find a good writer who will work on the producer's project -- not the writer's script -- for "deferred compensation," which I suspect may be a euphemism for no compensation.
If I am paying money to attend a pitch-fest and pitch my script to "potential buyers," I want some assurance that all of the buyers are indeed interested in, and capable of, buying scripts. Is that too much to ask?
Anyone want to share their own pitch-fest experiences?
Recently I spoke with a small-time producer who is scheduled to attend an upcoming, well-publicized pitch-fest as a "potential buyer." He admitted to me that he has no money and cannot buy any scripts. All he hopes to do at the pitch-fest is find a good writer who will work on the producer's project -- not the writer's script -- for "deferred compensation," which I suspect may be a euphemism for no compensation.
If I am paying money to attend a pitch-fest and pitch my script to "potential buyers," I want some assurance that all of the buyers are indeed interested in, and capable of, buying scripts. Is that too much to ask?
Anyone want to share their own pitch-fest experiences?