What a Pitch Actually Has to Do
A pitch creates a clear, compelling reason to want the screenplay or the next conversation.
High agreementA durable convention or broadly shared professional principle.
The principle
A pitch is not a compressed recitation of every plot beat. It communicates the central dramatic situation, protagonist, pursuit, conflict, stakes, tone, and the qualities that make this version distinctive. It also reveals whether the writer understands the project and can communicate with collaborators.
Put it to work
- Lead with the cleanest expression of the movie’s promise.
- Choose two or three turns that reveal escalation rather than narrating every event.
- End with the decisive movement and what the story is ultimately about when the context calls for a full pitch.
Common mistakes
- Front-loading backstory.
- Using comps instead of describing the project.
- Speaking so fast that the listener cannot form the movie.
Sources & further reading
Pitcheroo’s guidance is original synthesis. These are the main sources used for this guide.
- John August: What are loglines, and do they even matter?
- WGA: Producers’ Guide to Working with Writers
- William Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade