| Who, Where & When to Pitch |
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Page 2 of 2 You’ve targeted potential buyers, what’s next?How do potential buyers like to be pitched? That’s the first question you’ve got to answer. If their website doesn’t provide submission guidelines, call them to say you want them to consider your project. Find out what materials they would like you to submit and ask if you can get a meeting. Chances aren’t great that they’ll schedule a meeting prior to reviewing your materials.For tips on how to handle the meeting, see Three Steps to a Winning Pitch. Don’t push deadlinesIf you need to meet an industry-wide deadline, such as Telefilm Canada's Canadian Feature Film Fund cut off for production financing, your project should be delivered to the distributor at least two months prior to the deadline. Distributors need time to review projects, and they are inundated before every deadline. Also, if a distributor buys your project, you’ll need time to negotiate the distribution agreement, and the distributor will need time to develop the marketing plan.If you are not trying to meet an industry-wide deadline, then pitch at a time that doesn’t interfere with the deadlines, shortly after or in between cutoff dates. You wouldn’t drive during rush hour if you didn’t have to would you?  |
