Pitch Perfect (Advanced)

2022 PROGRAM DATES

Open for Applications: NOW CLOSED

Open for Bursary Applications: NOW CLOSED

‍PROGRAM DATES

MasterClass Workshop: Thursday October 13, 2022

*all participants attend this Master Class Workshop together

One-on-OneConsultations:

*all participants will be assigned a one-hour slot to occur on either Tues Oct 18, Wed Oct 19 or Thurs Oct 20

ABOUT

Hit ALL the right notes with this intensive pitching workshop. Identify the key components that contribute to a good pitch: the introduction, cut line, logline, synopsis, the heart, the package of pluses, all the way to the close.

In this thorough, in-depth course, you will learn:

• how to research an audience before the meeting

• improve story telling skills: clarity, structure, economy, visuals

• review the essentials required for a pitch one sheet

PLUS so much more, including an individual, one-on-one consultation!

What makes this course different?

This program will take a small group of participants (8 max) through a very rigorous master class to be followed by an individual one-on-one intensive with Jan Miller. Workshop participants will take a deeper dive into pitch development.

‍"Jan is one of the best coaches and mentors you could wish for. I have a stronger pitch and feel so much more confident about my series because of her feedback!"

Get practical and "hands on" learning, and prepare a strong pitch for investors and other stakeholders, PLUS an individual one-hour consultation with Jan Miller.

Questions? Contact Laurie Januska, Director of Programming at ljanuska@wift.com.

2022 PROGRAM FEES

Application Fee: $25 (+ HST)

Workshop Fee - WIFT Toronto Members: $425 (+ HST)

Workshop Fee - Non-Members: $500 (+ HST)

*Note: Only those accepted into this program will be required to pay the Workshop fee, above.

ELIGIBILITY

This program is designed for emerging content creators/producers (with at least 5 years experience in the industry) who are ready to start pitching their projects. This is not a "beginner" or "introductory"program; participants are expected to have industry experience so that they can get full advantage of the workshop and hit the ground running.

Eligible projects include TV/web series and feature-length films. All genres accepted.

Note: For this program, documentaries, talk-show formats or reality programs will not be considered eligible.

SESSIONS & INSTRUCTORS

Master Class: An overall introduction to preparing for the pitch. Significant focus will be placed on the project content, prior to the pitch preparation. If the content, theme(s) are not solid, it’s hard to pitch. In this workshop each participant will be given the 5 minute opportunity to present themselves and their project to their cohort, followed by content feedback and feedback on the structure of the pitch.

1-2-1: Each participant will have a 1 hour consultation to review their one sheet, their project content and their revised pitch:

During this program, the following will be covered:

  • Further development of the elements of the story/project idea
  • Improvement of storytelling skills: clarity, structure, economy, vision
  • Skills to hook the listener, effectively conveying the essence of the story and what credentials to highlight
  • Identification of the key components that contribute to a good pitch: the introduction, cut line, short synopsis, longer synopsis, the heart, the package of pluses, the close
  • Reinforcement of personal communications skills to strengthen the in-person pitch or zoom pitch
  • Identification of achievable goals for each kind of meeting
  • Expertise on how to adapt the pitch to a conversational one-on-one, a chance meeting, a pitch forum presentation, a zoom pitch meeting
  • Skills to research the audience before the meeting
  • The essentials required for a pitch ‘one-sheet’ for a feature or a ‘two sheet’ in advance of a series bible
  • Follow-up steps and ‘aftercare’
  • Greater opportunities for finding a good fit for the project, successfully targeting the pitch to the right person at the right place, at the right time
  • A detailed handout and Pitching 101 “cheat sheet” following the class.

One-on-one sessions will follow this master class the following week, and will be scheduled independently.

Jan Miller

Jan Miller is an international consultant and trainer specializing in film and television co-production and co-venturing. She also continues to present one of the world’s top Content Development & Pitching Workshops, from Iran to China and across Canada.

A talent that makes things happen, Jan was one of the driving forces behind setting up Canada’s first film school, the National Screen Institute (NSI). She also designed and presented the Strategic Partners International Co-production Market at the Atlantic Film Festival. Eleven years ago she collaborated with Berlin’s  Erich Pommer Institut to design the hugely successful Trans Atlantic Partners (TAP), followed by lead on the design and delivery of CMPA’s international Coproduction Accelerator Program (ICAP). Most recently Jan has returned to her roots, working with the NSI in designing and serving as Program Advisor for the Business for Producers: Atlantic Women’s Edition.

It's part of Jan’s DNA to support women working in the industry. She established the Women in Film and Television-Atlantic Chapter.  She introduced the WAVE Awards and the Women Making Waves Conference. She also co-designed and presented several iterations of Women in View’s Five in Focus training opportunities, primarily for underrepresented communities, including one specifically for female animators, as well as the 2021 iteration, Five in Focus Indigenous, which she served as trainer and co-lead. Jan presently serves on the Women in View Board, the WIFT Canada Coalition, completed a term on the AFC Board and sits on the Canadian Senior Artists Resource Network (CSARN) Board.

www.janmillerconnect.com