tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post5220702296885937552..comments2024-03-13T23:42:25.845-07:00Comments on Animondays: The Most Important Element In a PitchDavid B. Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12611160893518781463noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-69407962290743183022009-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:002009-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:00Building up yourself is a strong idea that many ma...Building up yourself is a strong idea that many may overlook when creating a pitch. Its easy to get lost in the creative aspects of your pitch project and overlook the Network/investor's point of view from a financial aspect.<BR/><BR/>An investor will always have to look at you as a whole, when its time to invest the big bucks. David made an analogy to rock stars. When 50 Cent made his first mainstream album, he had already had a ton of music out there on Mix tapes, our equivalent would be independent films. <BR/>There has to be no question to the investor that your reliable, so what better way to show that then with a proven track record?Chris Silvestrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03259519131013459653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-11580445598594295132009-01-05T15:18:00.000-08:002009-01-05T15:18:00.000-08:00Wow. Great blog, David. As much as I agree with yo...Wow. Great blog, David. As much as I agree with you and Plymton about the importance of cutting your teeth, there seems to be a recent trend w/right-out-of school kids, toy designers or graffiti artists with fresh(er) ideas (I suppose) that the "new breed" of development execs salivate for. Frustrating to those of us that have put their networks on the map--but as I pass my tenth year in the industry, passing in and out of favor with the rotation of execs and new network mandates, I wonder what role I'll play, if any, in these new creator's show(s).<BR/><BR/>Best of luck with your upcoming book!<BR/><BR/>--Andy Surianowolfboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09767451085225246454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-76066365702930302562008-12-29T05:22:00.000-08:002008-12-29T05:22:00.000-08:00Very insightful comments, Tim and Elliot. I have p...Very insightful comments, Tim and Elliot. <BR/><BR/>I have pondered the same thing: Independent films versus pitching. Independent films have given me much deeper satisfaction. For one, there are no gate keepers. The only danger for me was letting commercial influences creep in (or take over) my indie films. Those turned out to be a drag and I learned my lesson from them. <BR/><BR/>While indie films and pitches seem like two different paths, the indie films help grow a creator's voice which may be applied in the pitching arena if he/she so chooses. <BR/><BR/>I am not of the belief that pitching is complicated or a mystery. While there are tons of exceptions to any "rule" you may lay down, there remains the one constant truth that you need to develop yourself as the most important pitch element.David B. Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611160893518781463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-39225298276062190122008-12-29T04:42:00.000-08:002008-12-29T04:42:00.000-08:001)"I could tell that most would-be creators in the...1)<BR/>"I could tell that most would-be creators in the audience operated under the assumption is that (creatively) they already have it in the bag."<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I entirely agree with that.<BR/>I think most would be creators in the audience felt "Oh god, this is a lot more complicated and corporate sounding than I was hoping".<BR/><BR/>2)<BR/>Tim makes a very valid point here.<BR/>Having a project greenlighted represents status and money (two very worthy things) but it also means you are probably not raising the same child you were hoping to adopt.<BR/>The flip side - independent film maker - is an incredibly worthy, noble role in which anonymity and pennilessness abound, but in which you can do exactly what you want, keep your own hours and create to your hearts content.<BR/><BR/>Does hiding at home making your own little films mean you don't think you have the balls to do more, or are too intimidated and weak to step into a corporate arena.<BR/><BR/>Does the desire to pitch to the networks mean you are creatively walking a comfortable middle ground, never to express yourself fully?<BR/><BR/>(I actually think it's more complicated than these black and white statements but they're matters I've certainly considered myself).Elliot Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15952897418341461593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-738814364413384768.post-73040416517812737692008-12-28T20:30:00.000-08:002008-12-28T20:30:00.000-08:00The idea that has always stuck out to me in every ...The idea that has always stuck out to me in every event I go to on pitching or series creation is that in some ways I wonder if animation artists are putting too much focus on getting a network to accept and agree to fund their projects rather than finding a way to do it themselves. If you have the interest in creating a project, if you really believe in it and it's viability, why not try to make it yourself? Obviously having the power of a network behind you is huge, but it seems to me that having a body of work you independently created would make it easier to establish the kind of unique creative personality and proven track record of success networks are ultimately searching for. Obviously, this can be done in tandem with the kind of job Plympton is talking about (thinking of yourself, Pat Smith, the Krauses as examples). And at the end of the day, what's more critical to success than work ethic?Tim Rauchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17372320274473421640noreply@blogger.com