How to do well in a brainstorming meeting

So yesterday was a big meeting for me. I seem to have had a few of those in the past week. So that's a good thing. Met with a producer friend on a show I think I'm going to be working on with him. We haven't really nailed down the details yet. This is a show he's worked on a few years now. And one of the Network execs was in town to discuss the show. Thought I could share some of my experience to help you learn from it.

So first off, I was told that the execs were coming and what they were hoping to change this year. He told me to watch last years clips that were still on the Network's site. So when you are in this kind of situation, please by all means, watch what they ask you to do. Then, see what other clips you can watch also based on this show you are going to be talking about. Then, look up everyone who's worked on the show in previous years. Try to figure out who the players might be and what else they've done. Then, take notes relating to what they asked to change. Ask yourself, if you were to make those changes, what would you want them to be? When you go into a meeting like that, you want to be as prepared as you possibly can be.

I was even supposed to have a phone meeting for something else I'm pitching, that morning. But I moved it because I wanted to be as prepared for the afternoon meeting with the execs. You can never give yourself too much time to be prepared, in my book. The more prepared you come, the better you look, and the more chance they'll want to work with you again.

So I arrive to the meeting early, which is also a good thing. When the Execs show up, they're nice, easy going, people. So they make me feel comfortable right away. Thank goodness! I of course know my TV producer friend, so that helps, but luckily everyone was nice.

So we start talking about the show, what they want, where they see it going. Now, normally in the past when I'm new to a pitch brainstorming session, I find I tend to be a little shy at first. But these people flew in from NY and it's the only day I'll get to brainstorm with them. So I don't have time to be shy. So I have to work up my nerve to just dive in with both feet. And you know what? They liked what I had to say. Of course not every idea was a home run, but I could tell they liked more ideas than not.

And I find just having an opinion, and being able to back it up, speaks volumes too. It lets them know your views on what you like. And that's a good thing. It helps them trust your abilities.

Also, all the homework and notes I took before I met them, spoke volumes too. I wasn't left wondering what they were talking about. I wasn't left saying, "What show? What sketch?" I had seen everything, I had formed opinions, I could call upon segments I watched. It all gives them the impression that I am ready to work and ready for this meeting and I'm going to work as hard as they need me to.

So overall, it went pretty well. I don't know what the next steps are as far as my involvement goes, because my friend and I didn't get to discuss it yet. But hopefully there will be more meetings like that. It sure was fun!

Pitching to the Big Networks

This is my part 2 of Pitching when you're "there": The Big Networks. So, I kind of need to back track first in order to explain why I even got in to a big Network in the first place when I had no experience of writing on a TV show. See, apparently that just doesn't happen. But it did, for me and this is why.

What happened was I found out about this contest for people who had previously written on Network shows. My writing partner had, so I said, why don't we write something and submit for it? We had to create our own pilot for it plus a sample of a show on TV. But then after we submitted for the contest, we found out we BOTH needed to have worked on a sitcom, not just him. So that was the end of that. But, I thought, wait, this idea is too good to leave it there. So I start contacting some of my friends that could possibly get it to places. And my partner tells me, well, I know the head of "Said" Network. So I look up his person and lo and behold, the guy is head of the Network!

Apparently my writing partner had been a Page at one of the studios when he first started in the biz. A Page, from what I gather, is what Kenneth is on 3rd Rock. It's the low guy on the totem pole basically, or at least one of them. So his friend who was a Page way back then, went on to run one of the biggest Networks! Yep! Just goes to show, be nice to everyone in this biz! You never know where they will end up. Like Head Of The Network!

So my writing partner knows this guy. So I tell him, you're contacting him this week! For some reason my partner listened to me. I mean, what could I have done if he didn't?! haha Any way, he calls the guy's office and the guy calls him back like the next day. My partner tells him he'd like to pitch him an idea, a sitcom, and the guy says great, lets set something up with the head of comedy. ahhhhh!!!! So I'm excited and freaked out at the same time! What the heck am I doing?! Of course I want to pitch my idea, but OMG am I ready for this?! I've pitched Disney now. But the head of comedy at a big Network. Yeeks!

So luckily we each have a few friends who have pitched and sold shows. So we ask them what to expect and how to get ready. So this is what I can share with you to help you. We were told to know our pitch backwards and forwards, memorize it. Be able to talk about it as if it was a normal conversation. Our entire pitch was probably about 5 pages long, and we had the whole thing memorized. If it's a comedy like ours, add humor in the pitch. Don't go in and perform like a circus act, but do show them you have the comedy chops by adding some humor. If you can't get them to laugh in the pitch, there's no way they will think you can get them to laugh in a TV show.

We wrote down what each character would be like, and how they would add to the story weekly. We talked about possible future episodes so that the Executive could see that this wouldn't be a one season show but could easily go on for years. Be sure to mention the theme of the show. What is the one thing that you'll see each and every episode? For instance, the theme of something like Modern Family is probably "No matter how crazy families are, we all love each other." So through all the funny drama, there's still always each family member loving one another.

So we finally felt ready. We knew our pitch. And then we hear from said Network Head that we're not going to pitch to the head of comedy, he wants us to pitch to him. Ugh! As if I wasn't scared enough! But okay, that's cool. We can do this. Argh!

The day of the pitch comes. We are told to go to the Penthouse floor. (Because where else does a head of a Network work?) We enter the main lobby on that floor and they tell him they'll let him know we're there. Yikes! We're really doing this! So then we're told okay, he's ready for you. We walk down the longest hall everrrrrr! Along the way, there are huge photos on the wall of every celebrity that is on TV for this Network, almost as if to intimidate us even more! We don't need help in that department! Thank you very much! So we get to his office and his two assistants sit at their desks and say, he's ready for you, go on in. OMG!

So once you go in, be sure that you make small talk. Find something you have in common. Let them know you're comfortable to be there, even if you're not. And we weren't! Luckily my partner had the common ground of already knowing this guy. I also have a good friend who's been a producer on a couple of his shows, and had just been in Napa and saw a photo of said Network Executive at the winery with a celebrity. So I was able to bring up those names. It never hurts to let them see you run in the same circles.

So the pitch begins by him asking, what do you have for me? We go into our pitch. And we do awesome. We're comfortable and we remember the whole thing. This executive is not one for hanging out after, and basically shakes our hands, says thank you, and we leave. We walk out, looking at each other going, Uh, how'd we do? LOL But you know what, it didn't matter. For us, it was the fact we got a meeting with this huge executive and we did the best we could do. Those are all things that help you propel your writing career forward.

After a few days we hear, the guy passed on our idea. But that's okay, because like I said, I did learn that the chances of you selling a show without having had plenty of experience on a show on your own are slim to none. But that's okay. Because we did get to land another pitch at this Network, which meant we did do well on our first pitch to the head, or we'd never have been brought back. Plus, the friend of mine who produced shows for the Network Head was so impressed I'd gotten in to him, that he's had me work for him now. So, you just never know what each opportunity will bring. A closed door can really become an open door somewhere else. Next blog: our pitch to the head of comedy.

PItching to Disney - when you're "there"

So a friend of mine sent me a website from a writer, Stephanie Palmer, and her experiences about pitching to producers and what it's really like once you get to have meetings. As I read her experiences, I realized, oh yeah, that is what it's like! And it made me realize that at one point, I didn't know what it was like and I always wondered what it would be like once you do get to start pitching for "real". So I thought I'd share my experiences for those who are curious and getting ready to be at that point someday on their own. At first I thought I'd write them all in one blog post, but then I realized giving them each their own post might be better so you can see how they were all different and my experience with each.

So here's my first. Pitching to Disney. This was the short film I had sold. Luckily I had a writing partner at the time that had worked on several sitcoms so he had the experience already of being in these kinds of meetings. I noticed that at first I was intimidated by these nice producers. But when you first get that meeting you don't know if that's what your experience is going to be. So the first meeting I kind of just smiled and listened to my writing partner, a lot! LOL

Once the first meeting was over, I realized, okay, that was soooooo not a big deal. So the next time I was able to relax and shine as a writer. It was no different than any other meeting I'd had in advertising, where you really just talk, and share ideas, and listen. Listen! These producers are the ones that will hopefully hire you someday, so listen to what they want, what they feel strongly about, and be willing to take their feedback. You don't have to do everything they want. In fact, don't. They are hiring you for your style and your ability as a writer. So if you don't take their feedback, don't say that then and there. Take in all their notes, nod, do a lot of uh-huhs, and then next time you meet if you think there's a better way to address their notes, then tell them why and how you dealt with it. But only if you really see a better way. Don't do it to be difficult! If you are, they'll never want to work with you again. And you'll get a rep for being difficult.

My friend at FOX who works in research told me that once you get that rep of being difficult to work with, people will talk, and then you won't have meetings any longer. If you're a good writer and have a reason for not using their notes and can make the story strong, then yes, that will always keep you working.

So after a few meetings with Disney, I really started to feel comfortable. That's the key to working with producers. They want to know that you're someone they'd hang out with, be friends with. Let your personality shine. I write comedies, so I also like to joke around with friends. So making the room comfortable by being easy to talk to is how I handle working with producers. It's sort of like a date. If I can make them want to spend time with me, then there's a good chance they're going to want to work with me.

So as weeks went on, we found out that we were one of the few writers left out of like 60 teams. That was kind of cool! Then we had the meeting of, "yes, we're buying your idea!" Which was even cooler. Then got to go to the department where we sign the contract and get paid. Even cooler!

It never got made, as it turned out Disney Feature had two similar ideas being made. But that's okay too. It just showed that we had an idea worthy of their Feature department. And it was my first sale. All good.

So here's Stephanie's website on pitching. http://www.goodinaroom.com I think there's some pretty good stuff there. So check it out when you have a moment. Next blog I'll write about, my pitch to a big TV Network. Now THAT was cool.