Pitching...

pitching is done face to face so you'd have to make contact with somebody at HBO just to get the opportunity. for newbies the best (and sometimes only) route to pitching is at pitchfests. many production companies send reps to these fests and there is no litmus test prior to pitching so anyone can pitch for a fee. unfortunately, you have to go to them so a trip to LA is almost eminent. sometimes they go to NYC or Chicago or some other major city.

HBO may or may not send a rep to any particular pitchfest so i suggest you NOT limit yourself to them. there are several other cable channels who produce their own series for the small screen: showtime, usa networks, TNT, sci fi channel, bravo, etc... take your pick and/or pick them all. if they attend a pitchfest then why not?!

also, check out the websites for cable channels. most will give you information on how to submit ideas.

also - try entering your idea in a contest for a tv pilots. if it places well, then you have much more clout when it comes to begging for the opportunity.

I've sat at the same dinner table as a senior HBO guy and believe me the last thing he wanted was a pitch! He wanted to show me pictures of his family, so I let him and didn't even mention what I did. The one thing to kill your project is to pitch to people you run into unless THEY initiate it AND seem genuinely interested. Normally, the last thing you do is talk about the biz unless you're lucky enough to have a meeting lined up for you to discuss something specifically.

If you want HBO, get an agent who deals with them!

dinner table and pitchfest are two different things. if an HBO rep attends a pitchfest then all they expect is to here pitches all day. so, the one thing for you to know is that your pitch must stand out and be memorable amongst 50 others.

also HBO is hot for stuff right now because Showtime (it's biggest rival) has surpassed them in quality entertainment in the last few years. but your stuff has got to be fantastically cutting edge.
*ie -
Weeds - an upscale suburban pot dealing widow
Dexter - a "likeable" serial killer who kills serial killers who've evaded the law... takes one to know one!
The L Word - a bunch of sexy hot women in LA who happen to love only women

NikeeGoddess said:

dinner table and pitchfest are two different things.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Pitchfest sounds like a bear-garden, but then the sales markets in Cannes can be like that too and it gets to be fun after you've 'lost your virginity'!!!!