2.Main Content
THE PITCH with Eileen Quinn *Brand New Training Day
Sat 10 July 2004
10am to 5pm
Pitching is NOT a matter of comparing two films, nor can it be done well off the cuff. Whether you have been doing it for years, or just beginning, whether you hate it, or love it this seminar is still for you; come and have your assumptions challenged!
The Programme
In advance of this seminar, the participants are asked to view a list of four well known feature films and asked to consider how those films might have been pitched in the first place; in answer, we ask participants to write down a brief (one paragraph) pitch for each project.
Session One: The Prelude
We start with a one-hour informal interview session with an invited established industry 'guest star' from whom we will coax their best and worst pitch stories.
Session Two: The Lecture
A substantial and well researched pitch lecture, based on long experience as a UK producer and extensive interviews with a wide variety of established industry colleagues. This will encompass Buyer Psychology, Culturally Specific Pitching (UK/Europe vs. LA), Body Language, Pitch Preparation, Pitch Delivery, Do's and Don'ts, Writing a Sales Letter, and more. Essentially this is a download of practical information and tools with the stated aim to demystify pitching and ensure the participants leave better equipped than when they arrived. There will be a certain interactive element to this although it is not about putting the participants on the spot.
Session Three: Individual Pitch Surgeries
Putting it into practice - each participant will pitch a well known film from the viewing list based on what they have learned. However, beforehand, we will read out the short 'homework pitches' which they all prepared earlier...just to see the contrast between un-tutored pitching and post-lecture pitching.
The cost for the day is £100 + VAT (£117.50 total)
This includes refreshments and a light lunch.
The course will be held at The Script Factory Offices, Welbeck House, 66/67 Wells Street, London W1T 3PY.
To register for the course please call The Script Factory on 020 7323 1414
or e-mail training@scriptfactory.co.uk
The Tutor: Eileen Quinn
Ex-pat American producer Eileen Quinn is Head of Drama at IWC Media Ltd, and a partner in this recently merged Scottish 'super-indie'. This was in turn the result of the joint venture between Quinn's Monogram Productions (est. 1997) with Wark Clements Ltd. in 2001. She continues to produce independent dramas for both national and international markets, recently signing an exclusive first look deal with Fremantle International Distribution.
Eileen's development career started at Central Independent Television in 1987 when she joined as a script editor. She was quickly promoted to Co-Productions Executive reporting to Head of Drama, Ted Childs. She moved to Initial Film and Television in the late '80's where alongside overseeing and producing a host of high end dramas for television she worked with Initial founder Eric Fellner on feature film development.