1. The best way to get a meeting.

The first thing to do is to get to know the people you are pitching to and a feel for the market for your particular idea. http://www.showbizdata.com/contacts/specsales.cfm is a good place to look for what has been bought recently so you don't go pitching a similar idea to one that has already been bought. Certain places are looking for certain things - you're not going to go to Dark Castle with a period drama. Similarly certain people like certain ideas so look at what they have done in the past. If you are going to an independent financier, like a foundation or your rich friend, you have make sure that they will love the idea, so you have to know something about them. If you are trying to make an art piece it might be better to get funding from a foundation but if there is more commercial value in the story you might be able to sell it to a distributor (if it's already done) or get commissioned by a group like Cinemax as an original film. Second, you have to present yourself as a professional. If you are a first timer, it may be best to align yourself with a track record - either in the form of attached elements (cast, director) or partner with another producer who has more experience.

2. Making the approach.

People read email. A letter/fed-ex will sit on a pile, a phone call will not get through but a nice polite email has at least a chance of being read (if you can get it). The best way to approach someone is through a reference. If you are recommended to them or just show up/email/call them they are more likely to see you if you come through a reference so work those contacts. Another good way to come at them is to show that you are responsible and involved in the financing of your film. Having other sources of funding, so they don't have to shoulder the whole weight, looks good to potential investors.

3. Delivery of the pitch.

Every opportunity is a pitch; parties, meetings, a guy in an elevator, you never know where you could get someone interested. So you should refine your pitch and perfect it. The more you work on it the better you will get. Look at the people you are pitching to, if they start to zone out or look confused, you are doing something wrong - maybe your being too technical or the story isn't clear or maybe they just don't like the idea - so find a new way to do it that brings them back. Find different ways to grab the audience. A good way to get friends and neighbors to give you money is to show them that they are "buying into the dream." People like movies and this is their chance to be a part of one. For formalized pitching, again get to know the people that will be in the office/board room with you. Maybe the guy doesn't like sports and you are pitching a baseball movie. You have to focus on another aspect of the story - friendship, human condition, struggling against obstacles - every story has more than one way to approach it. Have several formal pitches prepared, meetings may be different lengths, they may like your idea and extend the time, there may be several people in the room and he isn't impressed by the same thing as her.

4. The first few minutes.

You have to craft an opening sentence that will draw them in. You can't sustain interest that isn't there in the first place. Keep moving at a steady but quick pace, getting across 1 or 2 main features, but don't dump everything just to clarify later because you might not get that time. Your story has to be simple but entertaining - you are a storyteller here in the old tradition - you have to get the financiers to get the impact of the story through your words. But don't tell everything; leave them wanting more, so you can get to a Q & A session - that shows they are interested. You also have to see the movie and how the story will be told. All this within the first five minutes and without confusing them!

5. What to bring along.

Bio sheet/credit list - Shows that you can pull this off.

Business plan - What is your plan? How will this make them money? This will evolve over the course of pre-production but always keep it short and to the point. You should have a more detailed copy incase they want something for their accountants to look at. If you are pitching to an independent source you may need an extremely detailed plan that lets those not in the industry know what things mean and a history of how other similar projects have done.

Writing sample - For them to look over later. Bring a copy of the script if it's good enough (won't take away from the pitch) or a book if it's an adaptation.

Visuals - If the film is already in the can you should have a trailer or a key scene to show. Show them things that can't be easily described but only seen on camera. The trailer shouldn't take away from the pitch - so it should be of equal quality or better than your pitch. You should know the effect of your trailer - a medium reaction will not help. Show it to other people, other filmmakers so you know what kind of reactions you will get from it.

6. Red Flags.

Don't lose focus - you can tell if your audience is confused. It is ok to compare your film to others, but make sure it's apples to apples. If you are making a small indy don't compare it to The Matrix or even to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, something small that made money and is a similar subject or genre is enough. Also don't go beyond 2 or 3 films - who really know what Scary Movie meets Pretty Woman meets Braveheart meets The Godfather only funnier rally means? Again do your homework. Is there something out there in development that is very similar to your idea? They don't want to put money into a film about Alexander the Great only to have it sit on a shelf when three similar films come out within the span of a year. Check www.indywire.com, www.variety.com, www.hollywoodreporter.com, or www.filmjournal.com, www.upcomingmovies.com or www.corona.bc.ca/films to see what's out there. This is a pitch not a speech, know the difference and don't include your resume in the pitch it takes up time, takes away from your enthusiasm for the film and they can read it themselves.

So I hope you found this as insightful as I did the actual panel. Remember that situations are different and things are always changing. If you find something that works for you - milk it. Try get a job assisting people who are producers and see if you can go along with them during a pitch to see how its done. Like everything else it is a skill that must me refined over time, so don't fret if you get shot down a lot - it can still happen even if you pitch is perfect. Don't think of pitching as something that has to be done aside from filmmaking, it is an integral part of it, just like casting or scriptwriting. As a collaborative medium everyone will have input. Work with the money men to help them to see why your film should be told the way you want it.

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