Ideas for Pitching a Script With Music

niteshift · Jan 8, 2013

Hey All,

I'm in the process of developing a pitch for a script with music. Not a musical, but an integrated piece where the script can stand alone, but is much better presented with the music present.

The general feeling has always been that audio is always done last ( unless it's a musical ) but I wanted unpublished songs integrated into the script to present as an entire piece.

Has anyone done this, or had experience in this field ? The concept is to simultaniosly produce the film and music.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

cheers, niteshift

WriteKnight · Jan 8, 2013

Not enough info here.

WHO are you pitching this script to? Potential investors, people who you want to give you money, so that you can produce it? Do you have them sitting in a room, watching a 'teaser' trailer that you have already shot? Are you simply giving them an 'elevator' pitch - in which case you don't have time to go into lengthy details on the music.

Is this a 'studio' pitch session? Did you manage to secure a meeting with a development exec, who is willing to hear your pitch? In which case you should have a short, sweet stand-up, which leads to them asking for 'more' - at which case you leave them with your trailer, or play them the music.

IF the story stands alone without the music - why is the music necessary? Is it a story about an Indy band, with a new sound, and how the make it big against all the odds? Then yeah - have the CD ready to hand them, after you've made their pitch and they've asked for a 'leave behind'.

niteshift · Jan 8, 2013

Hey WriteKnight,

Thanks for the reply, and you bring up some good points.

I'm essentially wanting to put foward a business and production concept. To whom ? Anyone really, to a director, a producer, to potential investors or in an extreme case a studio.

As the script involves a lead character who finds her internal peace from being a performing songwriter, there is the oppertunity to include unpublished music, therfore potentially greatly increasing the revenue returns from the project as a whole.

In pitching terms, I'm considering the government development grant route ( which requires a director and producer on board ) the small indie studio, or if fate should have it, a larger production company.

Anyone really, who is interestd in the concept..... so, quite a broad audience.

Self production is something I would not consider, as although I have been around the TV and film industry for a long time, it is not an area where I have the requisite skills.

In essence, I would like a delivery mechanism where the music is Q'd to the script. A pop up kids book may be the answer ! Just kidding.....

Perhaps a thumb drive with relevant information, or use Dropbox to present a multimedia package ? Having written a stage musical, there is no problem in doing this. As a film project ?, well, that's where I'm floundering around.

Hope this makes things a bit clearer.

cheers, niteshift

Mac H. · Jan 9, 2013

I'm visualising something like 'Fantasia' or arty-highly stylised piece like the Aussie made 'Cat Piano' - is that right? Or is it more like 'Moulin Rouge' (another Aussie film!) ?

The guys & gals at the Screen Composers Guild are always happy to chat with people - they have regular events where they talk a lot about the process.

Funding wise (ignoring that Screen Australia have already allocated their development budget for this financial year!) it would seem best if you could get a local musical name to get excited over the project.

I wouldn't worry about a 'business plan' at this stage - really that is the producer's problem.

Your number one task is to get others excited about the project - not fussing about how the depreciation rates of music .v. film assets factors into ROI !

Since you are Sydney based, you can get feedback on the writing side from the AWG Associate-run screenplay critique group. It is 100% free and many of them are pretty damned cluey.

Good luck,

Mac

niteshift · Jan 10, 2013

Much appreciated MacH, those are great leads. Thanks.

Yeah, I agree about the budget stuff, but I'd like to have a reasonable overview should the subject arise. Distractions ! Gotta have them somewhere.

cheers, niteshift

Ideas for Pitching a Script With Music

niteshift

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WriteKnight

Arranger Of Disorder

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Mac H.

Board Visitor

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