Documentary - Preparing for our Pitch (Notes)

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Preparing for our pitch (Notes)


What is at the ‘PITCH’
  • It is your chance to sell our idea
  • Usually presented to the programme editor or a senior producer

What is the purpose of a pitch?
  • To allow you to opportunity to deliver a presentation of your idea and to flesh it out so your audience can visualise your film
  • It is also a chance to get some constructive feedback.


creating a ‘working hypothesis’
  • In his boor ‘directing the documentary’ (2009), Rabiger suggests using 8 questions to form your working hypothesis:
  1. In life I believe that [your life principle concerning this subject]
  2. My film will show this in action by exploring [situations]
  3. My central characters are [their characteristics]
  4. What each wants to get, do or accomplish
  5. The main conflict in my film is between.
Preparing your proposal.
  • Your idea must have a central hypothesis around which your film forms its opinions and conclusions
  • You should then write this up in a PROPOSAL which is always in the present tense and has an ‘active voice’


Include - who/what/when/where/why/how
  • Title (can be working title - Sell the idea
  • TOPLINE ie like a newspaper headline to the story - ANGLE
  • STORY OUTLINE - about a paragraph -USP -“WHAT” & “WHY” (SELL the idea
  • STYLE/FIMIC APPROACH/ TREATMENT - VISUAL AESTHETIC & WHY
  • CENTRAL AND MINOR CHARACTERS - “WHO”
  • HIGHLIGHT ANY TENSION IN THE SOTRY
  • STORYTELLING DEVICES:
  1. EG investigation/journey/day in the life etc - “when/how”
  2. Remember “show don’t tell” rule
  • LOCATION/S - “WHERE”
  • STORY RESOLUTION

Body language and style
  • Preparation is vital
  • Think of the prep as similar to a job interview or a sales pitch 
  • Consider the pace of your delivery
Be enthusiastic and add colour to be written proposal in your verbal delivery.
  • It is usual to feel nervous so rehearse our pitch to another group for feedback

Pitching dos
  • Be Brave and surprised 
  • Be passionate and engaging
  • Challenge conventions - new angles
  • Pitch ideas in a paragraph
  • Pitch the top line - articulate it in a sentence
  • Know existing output and spot opportunities
  • Develop a dialogue with commissioners 
  • Pitch ideas and stories not subject matters.

Pitching don’ts
  • Send lots of ideas - be focussed
  • Patronise editors with gimmicks
  • Water down the idea too soon
  • Flog a dead horse/old chestnuts
  • Develop ‘ off message’ ideas I.e. Not right for slot/channel/brand etc
  • Make promises you can’t keep 
  • Ensure ideas worked up
  • Worry about ‘fancy’ presentations


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