Infilmmaking, apitch is a concise verbal (and sometimes visual) presentation of an idea for afilm orTV series generally made by ascreenwriter orfilm director to afilm producer orstudio executive in the hope of attracting development finance to pay for the writing of ascreenplay.^[1]

The expression is borrowed from "sales pitch".^[2] A pitch is used throughout different stages of production, such as casting and distribution, as well as to urge film producers to further fund a project.^[1] Filmmakers who devise a pitch tend to manufacture a production package, which is handed out to each potential investor during the pitch. The package contains the basic information for the filmmaker's project, such as a plot synopsis and budgeting values.^[3] Sometimes, filmmakers will produce an independentpitch trailer as a part of the package to help potential financiers better visualize the project and the filmmaker's vision.

Though pitches are usually made on the basis of a fullscript orteleplay,animated productions for both film and television are often pitched on the basis ofstoryboards alone. For example, the animated television showPhineas and Ferb was pitched from a storyboard. Co-founders of the project,Dan Povenmire andJeff "Swampy" Marsh, needed to convince overseas executives forThe Walt Disney Company togreenlight the series, so they drew a storyboard and recorded it as a reel. They then mixed it and dubbed it over with sound effects, voices, and narrative, then sent the recording to the executives, who accepted it.^[4]

Television pitches can also be devised by the network or company that produces the program.^[5] Certain networks are pitched the idea of including a character in a series in order to boost ratings. Such pitches have been used with "Oliver" inThe Brady Bunch and "Luke" onGrowing Pains.^[6] Networks also try to force their ideas on series' producers through their pitches, though their approach is business-oriented and their ideas are generally not favored by writers and viewers.^[7] In 1992, the crew of the animated seriesRugrats was approached byNickelodeon, which pitched the idea of aRugratsHanukkah special.Paul Germain, co-creator of the series, responded by suggesting apassover special, which he dubbed a "funny idea".^[5] After they closed production forthat special, they began considering the Hanukkah special and eventually created it in 1996 as the episode "A Rugrats Chanukah".^[5][8]

• Aguado, Ken & Eboch, Douglas (2013).The Hollywood Pitching Bible: A Practical Guide to Pitching Movies and Television. ScreenMaster Books.ISBN 978-1490367149
• Alberti, John, ed. (2003).Leaving Springfield: "The Simpsons" and the Possibility of Oppositional Culture.Wayne State University Press.ISBN 0-8143-2849-0.
• Karg, Barbara; Van Over, Jim & Sutherland, Rick (2007).The everything filmmaking book: from script to premiere - a complete guide to putting your vision on the screen. Everything Books.ISBN 978-1-59869-092-7.
• Steiff, Josef (2005).The Complete Idiot's Guide to Independent Filmmaking.Penguin Group.ISBN 1-59257-390-8.

• Cinematic techniques
• Film finance
• Film production
• Narratology

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