KidScreen Update

I just got a phone call from a very happy client. The pitch bible and script that I wrote for them was very well received by broadcasters and production companies at The KidScreen Summit, last week in NYC.

It looks like they're well on their way to a development deal. More details as they become available.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Some potential clients asked if I could guarantee... IF I COULD GUARANTEE - That if I wrote a Pitch Bible for them, their show would sell. (They didn't want to spend the money without a guaranteed return on their investment.)

Of course I said, "no". I can't guarantee that. But I did guarantee that if they didn't have a Pitch Bible and they didn't pitch their show - it would never sell.

Sorry guys. There are no guarantees in life. Well, aside from that Death and Taxes stuff. But if you're going to play the game, then play the game. Otherwise, step aside and let the real talent shine.

There are 1,000 reasons why your show might not sell - and 1,000 reasons why it might. But while you have little or no control over them, you have to try.

Or not...

BIG NEWS

After speaking to (and being rejected by) several publishers - Sorry folks. I don't want to write "A Beginner's Guide to Pitching TV Shows". I assume that my readers have some skill and talent as writers, otherwise they wouldn't be reading this blog. - I've decided to publish an E-Book on the subject of Pitching and Pitch Bibles.

Think of it as "The Pitch Bible Bible". It will tell you everything - and I mean EVERYTHING you need to know about writing a pitch bible and pitching shows. To be honest, I hold about 15 to 20% back from the info on this blog. That's the added value that I provide my clients and now it will be available to the readers of my new E-Book.

"So, Steve...", you say... "What's in this new book that we can't find on your blog?"

It'll be chock full of way-cool secret information, like:

• How do you get past the Gate Keepers and speak directly to the decision makers?
• This is the 21st century. How do you add cross-platform media into your pitch in a meaningful way?
• How do you create living breathing characters in a 2 page pitch document?

Basically, its the difference between getting a development deal - and not getting a development deal.

When's the book coming out? Not sure - but it's in the works as a high priority item.

The price? Cheap. Million dollar insider info for less than a pack of ciggies.

I'd Tell Ya - But Then I'd Have To...

Well, we've topped 10,000 hits. This may not seem like much to you. But to me, it's huge. So thanks again everyone.

Just to let you know that the Pitch Bible material isn't limited to pitching animation. I've used the Pitch Bible format shown in the blog to pitch live action, unscripted, feature films - and now... I'm pitching a toy.

A bit of history...

In 2001 I had a "eureka" moment. I had an idea for a point of purchase toy, similar to Crazy Bones. If any of you don't know "Crazy Bones", they were lumps of colored plastic with faces on them. They came, 3 in a foil pouch which sold for $2.99. As a dutiful father, I bought my son the entire set - investing many, many dollars in lumps of colored plastic with faces on them.

While examining one of these expensive plastic lumps, I bounced it up and down in the palm of my hand. The number "27" as in 'cents' flashed in my mind. Because that's what it cost to produce the 3 plastic lumps that I'd spent $2.99 to buy for my kid. This worked out to 9 cents per lump.

Another thought flashed in my head. "I can do that too."

So I designed a toy. I built a prototype. My pal had a 3D simulated model and packaging designed. It looked pretty good. I put together a pitch bible - found a sales agent (because I don't know NOTHING about the Toy Biz) and he took it to NYC.

We landed a toy deal. But before the much anticipated "pot of gold" could land at my feet, 9/11 happened, the economy tanked and with it - the toy business.

The toy company bought out the contract (THANKS GUYS!). Another toy company made a side deal and bought the toy's name (and trademark) from me. So I took the money and shelved the entire toy concept. I'd been paid twice for it - yet still owned the toy.

So now I'm reworking the pitch. I know that I've got a half-way good idea. It already has market acceptance - a toy company wanted it ten years ago. Now, I'm using my pitch bible skills to put together an up to date (and very cool) pitch to bring to market.

What's in this "toy bible"? Well, its got the same things you'd find in a TV show Pitch Bible:

The Who, What, Where, When, Why and How of the product - be it a toy or a TV show.

It also outlines the all important "WOW FACTOR". What sets my 27 cent piece of plastic apart from all the other 27 cent pieces of plastic? Why would a kid want to have one - or maybe 52 of them? Would a parent be intrigued enough to buy this toy? This is the same as the 'compelling reason' that I've outlined for online web series. "Why would someone watch this show?"

I'll let you know how it goes... So what is this toy? Its secret. If I tell you, I'd have to...

Thanks Everyone!

Just a note to say thanks to everyone for making January 2011 our best month ever with about 1250 hits.

I realize that many blogs get that amount of hits every day or every hour (every minute) - but for me, its staggering that this many people are checking out my little niche blog.

Thanks again - and more good stuff to come.

Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Any Better...

Here is Gene Roddenberry's original 1964 pitch for a little show that he called...

STAR TREK

More BEZB's...

More on the ongoing BRAIN EATIN' ZOMBIE BABIES project...

To increase the volume of traffic to the YouTube Channel, the collective braintrust suggests that I post more frequently and provide exclusive content - not found anywhere else.

In response to this, we've taped an interview with Alyson Court. Her voice is featured in the upcoming RESIDENT EVIL: MERCENARIES 3D video game. She plays the popular character Claire Redfield, for the uninitiated.

The interview has been divided into 4 parts: Her early years, How she got the role of Claire Redfield, All about Resident Evil and other projects (including BEZB's). The first part of the interview is now online (see above). We expect to post a new portion every week, for the next 4 weeks. Beyond that, we have several new BEZB episodes in the can - as well as some interesting vintage Behind the Scenes material from FREAKY STORIES.

If posting frequently and unique, original material is a way to draw traffic, we'll know very shortly.