This week has been an intense one for me. Last year, my first screenplay, CLITORATI, won a prize - the Studio21 Drama Script award. I was over the moon: it’s the first thing I’d ever written, the experience that made me realise I wanted to be a writer as well as a director. And it was weird - I’ve written about it here before, and if we know each other, I’ve probably chewed your ear off about it. It’s basically lesbian Sex and the City meets a murder mystery. It’s wild, it’s camp, it’s promiscuous, it’s joyful - and it’s mega genre-bending, which a lot of producers I first showed it to didn’t like. Which was why it was so nice for it to win this recognition a year ago.
Anyway - the prize was part of a telly conference called Content London. And as part of the finalisting process, we had to pitch our shows - to a big audience of industry people. It was a five minute pitch, American style - on a stage, with a presentation. It was a potentially overwhelming experience. And I have this memory of just deciding I was going to enjoy myself. I’m not sure where this came from - but I remember thinking, you can choose: will this be fun, or will it be stressful? And this ended up being a fantastically good decision. I had the time of my life. And honestly, ever since then, I’ve absolutely LOVED pitching.
This year, I was invited back to the conference, and I had a clutch of smaller, 1-2-1 pitching sessions. And I loved them just as much. And since pitching gets a bad rep (see also: networking) - I thought I’d dedicate this issue of the newsletter to all the things I love about it. And I’d really like to hear your thoughts in the comments
It’s just storytelling
Though a pitch is a sales device, it’s also an opportunity to tell your story. In my case, as I was pitching a few ideas several times (a musical, a feature film and two TV ideas), I got to play around with how I told the story. What to lead with, what was right for that person, what my comparisons were that would really grab people, or make them smile (e.g. ‘Think lesbian Sex and the City meets a murder mystery). I also started to love watching whoever I was pitching to. Which parts made them laugh, or lean in, or really listen - and which parts made them glaze over. Then I’d learn and adapt how I’d deliver the same story the next time.
It’s also just flirting
And I don’t mean this in a gross way - I mean this in a celebratory way! When I was a student, I used to love flyering my shows in Edinburgh cos it was an excuse to go up to interesting strangers and strike up a conversation with them. Now, I’ve realised I love industry parties because it’s acceptable, indeed desirable, to go up to strangers and start telling them about your ideas. It’s amazing! I wish this was more de rigeur in the real world.
Or maybe a better word is… connection
I feel like a pitch has gone really well when I come away knowing the person a little better. In all parts of my life and work, understanding humans and psychology and brains and ourselves is basically what I’m here for - what I’m most interested in, what I’m about. I’ve felt so lucky over the past week cos everyone I’ve met has been super game for proper conversations and connection. Yes, we’ve talked about the ideas but we’ve also talked about therapy and unconventional families and radical care and the weird corners of our lives. And for me, that’s the difference between a nourishing connected conversation and a soulless pitch.
Vulnerability is a superpower
I think this is a fundamental part of the possibility of connection. If we’re prepared to be vulnerable in a professional context - to a degree that’s appropriate to wherever we’re at, of course, and not going so far that we feel unsafe - then we’re able to find much greater connection. I actually find this in all relationships but I think it’s the most under-celebrated in a work context, which is why it’s important here.
Active listening is as important as talking
This is totally obvious but it always bears repeating. All week, I was there to be the person pitching. And so it would have been very easy for me to just talk. But (thank goodness) I felt relaxed enough to also listen. I got some absolutely incredible advice from the people in my meetings this week. As well as having some absolutely beautiful personal stories shared with me - which ultimately meant we knew each other much better by the end of even a very short meeting.
It’s also important to acknowledge how much easier this is with your own work. I reckon if someone asked me to sell a product that I hadn’t created, or that I didn’t believe in - I’d find it much, much harder. So even though I’d say these thoughts translate - there’s something glorious and magic about doing it with your own artistic ideas, that you really believe in, that almost feel like little pieces of your soul.
I hope reading this gives you a little more enthusiasm for pitching if you don’t like it - and perhaps something new to reflect on if you’re already a fan.
If you’re wondering where the cultural recs have gone - don’t worry! I’m gonna do a big end of year round up of all my faves in the next newsletter. I can’t wait. And I’m also working away in the background bringing some cool changes to what’s happening here - and I can’t wait to share them with you.
As always - I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections on what I’ve written here. And if you know anyone you think would like the J Mail - please do share it with them! I’ve got a growing community here and I’m supremely grateful for every single reader. It’s joyful to spend some time with you.
Til next time - you’re brilliant.
Love
J x
Loved this, Jess! Sounds like a blast and this is such wise advice. Totally resonate with your points about aiming for nourishing connected conversations in moments that might otherwise be stale and salesy.
And I love your points about the value of getting to share stories multiple times... I met ten editors when I was pitching my last book and those conversations were so generous and generative - by the end of the process I felt like I could finally see what I was trying to do!