The Almighty Pitch: How to Prove Your Script is the Best

When the script for the future blockbuster «Alien» (1979) was almost ready, its authors came up with a pitch of just three words: «Jaws in space». After the stunning success of the film «Jaws» (1975), producers immediately understood what the new film was about. To this day, this pitch serves as a vivid example of a concise, succinct, and clear presentation of the essence of the project.

Charles Harris is an English writer and screenwriter whose work in film and television has been recognized with numerous awards. His experience in promoting books and scripts formed the basis of this book. According to Harris, it is not enough to write a brilliant script; to capture the interest of producers or investors from the very first words, one must present that script just as brilliantly. Achieving polished phrasing requires significant preparatory work. The screenwriter must develop a strategy and tactics for their actions, have a good understanding of the film market (the four quadrant principle), be knowledgeable about budget and advertising issues, learn to improvise, and view possible failure as invaluable experience. In addition to fundamental knowledge, the book provides numerous important tips that will help anyone promoting their projects gain confidence and achieve creative realization and recognition.