Hey All, I know there are conflicting opinions about Virtual Pitch Fest, but for what it's worth, I thought I'd pass along that they're having a sale this weekend. I'll even do the math for you: $55/7 pitches ($7.86 each), $90/12 pitches ($7.50 each) and $189/29 pitches ($6.52 each). The best sale I've seen for the $90 package was over Memorial Weekend, when I got 13 pitches for $90 ($6.92 each). If you need time to think about it, they have similar sales quite regularly--mostly on Tuesdays and Fridays it seems.
There are 5 automated responses that the pro you've pitched can return or they can type their own:
1) Strong project, just currently not the right fit. 2) We already have a similar project. 3) The story’s concept is unclear to us. 4) The hero’s goal seems too ambiguous for us. 5) Nothing personal, it just didn’t grab us.
So far, I've sent in three pitches via VPF for my dramedy. The first response I received about 21 hours after sending it. It was the #5 automated response. The second pitch, the producer sent a very nice personalized message (three short paragraphs!) five days after I sent the pitch. She said it was a "compelling premise," but her "partners decided to go a different direction." She even gave me a fantastic tip, which was greatly appreciated. So above and beyond! My third pitch resulted in a script request 4.5 hours after I sent it. I *may* have screamed. I emailed the script last Wednesday. Look, I'm realistic. I know the stars will have to align perfectly for it to pan out and my chances are probably better playing the lottery, but it's still an exciting "win" in my book.
While VPF is a "pay to pitch" site, I look at it as a website that has saved me many hours of research. I still do loads of research on each company/producer I pitch, but VPF has introduced me to companies/producers I didn't know existed (and what they're looking for) and made the pitching process quite easy. In addition, you're guaranteed a response in five business days or your pitch is refunded. Some of the names on the website will be very familiar to those of you who have perused the S32 $35 pitch sessions--which I think is a bonus. Once I use up my 13 pitches, I'll have a better idea on whether it's a good use of money or not, but for $7.00 per pitch, it seemed reasonable to give it a shot.
Have a great weekend!
I've done two VPF package goes. One script request and the others were bout 50% "not interested" & 50% "good stuff but not what we're looking for now". Much cheaper (like $10 per pitch in a package) than most places & do seem to have some big names + easy to pitch... that being said you DEF need to research the prod cos via IMDB, their websites, etc. before submitting to any particular one cause some on there should not be requesting IMO (IMO included for legal reasons lol) and clearly are IMO (again) just cashin' in occasionally for clickin' a button... aka the "producer" who's supposedly looking for animation scripts (among others) but who's only body of work seems to be videos of a person teaching a musical instrument on YouTube...
Sounds promising, Andrea - keeping my fingers crossed.
Nice Query - thanks for sharing.
A.S.: Sounds like you're a big researcher, too! Ninety-three percent, huh? Why am I not surprised? Some strike me as highly unprofessional as I peruse their "current needs." Even with some of those "players" that have a website, the website is not interactive, as in it's only one page with their name and little else. Pretty underwhelming. Anyone can call themselves a producer, right?
I mostly stick to the names I recognize--or at least gain an appreciation for after a lot of research--and ones who take the time to be more specific with their "current needs." Also, companies with credits other than shorts. I'm fine with smaller companies that produce movies that go straight to video or whatever. I'm even willing to help where I can. We all have to start somewhere. :)
I've received several really nice notes from the people reading my VPF pitches, which is positive. I'm mindful that they don't have to write anything, but am so appreciative when they take the time. It's good PR.
Thanks for sharing, Andrea, and good luck with the producer!
I'm a big user of the site. I've received too many script reads to count, and four times I've had the producers I hooked up with on VPF take my script to financiers, e.g., Blumhouse, Millennium (but alas no funded projects to date). To get the most out of the site, as Andrea says, do your research. Some of the people are quite established in the industry, others, not so much.
A few things to throw into this conversation in the name of transparency, not trying to be a damp squid.
As I understand it, the industry members get a cut of the fee providing they give a response, so they're financially incentivised to be there. This is very common with any pitching service. The kind of people who have a track record making movies don't tend to need to go looking far and wide for material.
There's every possibility you're pitching to an assistant who may or may not be doing their own thing to try and find content. Saw this happening from the inside via dealing with the head of one of the biggest prodcos out there. Long story and this was linked to InkTip not VPF. Therefore, it's very hard to do your due-diligence and sadly IMDb/credits may not tell the full story. Very wise to always check that though.
Zero Gravity tend to respond to all queries. My experience dealing with them from the other side (producer making offers to talent) wasn't the best.
What I do like about VPF is it very much does what it says on the tin and it seems you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Halloween deals (eg. regular 5 pitches now 8 for $55) on today, Saturday, and maybe for the weekend. I'm not at all a fan of using this fairly expensive service to blitz pitches wildly all over the place, but the pitches don't expire and if you direct a script that's ready (highly polished) to the right high-up person on their list (I'd count maybe 20 of that type, with maybe another 50 so-so) then I say, "why not?" I'm the WCG (world's cheapest guy) and I sprang for it today, and will hold them till I'm ready.
While I do love that IMDb exists and it brings a layer of rapidly available due-diligence to the average writer, it does have its blind spots with certain roles. Anything around the lower end of producing or production assistant area gets a little murky. I know people who've done significant work on well known shows and not been eligible for a credit. I know they find that very frustrating when it comes to being taken seriously.
Most roles within a prodco in pre and post development pretty much need not apply. They're most invisible and defaulting back to resumes.
We try hard to make sure everybody involved with our projects gets something that acknowledges their input. Not all producers go that far because, well, a lot of people are sadly seen as pretty much disposable.
That said, if someone doesn't have credits to match their claims, they should be going to some effort validate their credentials via other means. It really irks me when people hide behind the claim they "used to be an exec" because they could have been the executive of Wastepaper Basket Management in their mom's three person prodco.
Kind of off topic from "VPF" here, but I guess that's because there really isn't that much to say about it. Now, if we were to start a "Black List" topic, we'd be into 20 pages in no time!
Anyway, back to VPF: Yes, I did buy 8 for $55 today. I had a day all booked up for something else (a script polish) but ended up spending the better part of 3 hours going through and preparing how I "might" execute those 8 pitches! Sheesh. Well, I settled on one that involved an Indie-seeking UK producer with decades of experience and credits, but nothing too large. I have this one thing I've been trying to get to Dir. Terry Gilliam for about 3 years, so maybe they can help. Uh, here it is FYI:
https://www.scriptrevolution.com/scripts/kith
But it goes to show that you shouldn't just jump at the NBC/Universal guys and blow all the pitches that way. I tried that experiment last year on VPF with several pitches, and got nary a single bite. Half of the entire pitch today described the project history and my efforts and finding attachments, before I realized oh yeah, I better pitch the darned script in what's left of the 3,500 characters I'm allowed.
We'll see. But I have more confidence in this sort of thing than NBC/Universal these days. And now... hmm... 7 pitches left. But not tomorrow... got to do that script polish instead! Discipline! Discipline! Discipline!
Lots of screenwriters don't receive a credit for their efforts; performing a rewrite under a certain percentage, getting rewritten by a certain percentage, script doctors, writers' room writers. That's before getting into people being outright unscrupulous. In some cases, there are guild rules which can't be contended.
I guess one of the takeaways of this thread is the need for due diligence when it comes to researching pitch opportunities. It's ridiculous (and expensive) to blindly blast pitches without putting thought into why to this person/this company and having solid reasoning behind it. As for some items on my checklist:
VPF is far from perfect and full of highly questionable leads. That said, if people don't research, that's their problem. There are some fantastic leads on that platform as well, including some of the very same people who are also on S32 and/or Roadmap Writers.
I look at VPF as an economical way for me to get pitches out there (especially at less than $7.00 per pitch), and I've had some really nice responses. For me, these pitches make me feel like I'm at least trying to promote myself.
Like Steve pointed out, the pitches don't expire. I, too, am quite selective with my pitches and still have several left from the package of 13 I purchased in May. The VPF lists basically give me a starting point, which saves me a lot of time. Time is money.
I've received a few read requests after querying via VPF. On the other hand, there are companies that seem shakey.
And recently I queried one company by direct email (not through VPF, though it is listed there). The response I got was that they were only acting as a sales agent for produced films and producing films that have financing attached. So I assume they are happy to take the money they get for responding with little likelihood of falling for a query.
This is concerning. Adding the info that I have on hand. Apologies in advance for the length.
First, let me say that I totally get vetting people/production companies/studios/etc before approaching anyone. It's always good to know who you're talking to and if virtual fests work for you, you're okay with the cost, then hey, go for it. If it results in a produced script, then even better. Break out the champagne.
However, any online thing isn't a substitute for communication. I mean, let's say you a big yes from a producer through VPF, you're gonna have to talk to people. Like, human beings. It could be online, email, zoom, phone, whatever, but eventually, your conversation skills are going to be much more important.
I've had several aspiring screenwriters tell me they got a read request for their script from Zero Gravity. Not one of them heard anything from the company again. After I did some poking around online, since I placed the company on my "maybe" list, found out that they always request scripts for every query, get people to sign the release form, but nothing happens. I'm sorry to be all Debby Downer here. I just really want my fellow screenwriters to be informed. From my experiences, research, conversations I['ve had with people in the film industry, those who communicate very little, ie form email to automatically request all scripts, is the virtual equivalent of don't call us, we're never calling you. I've long since decided Zero Gravity isn't for me.
The goal should be to form working relationships. Build trust. Get that call back, because they know and trust you, as a person. If you want to use VPF or any website as stepping stone toward that goal, then more power to you.
Did anyone else here attend the cold pitch zoom meeting hosted by CJ and Shane? If not, to sum up, best pitch is to not pitch at all. Best query is no query. I learned more in that amazing zoom meeting in only a few hours than what I learned from years of internet research. I've since applied what I learned and got one production company to agree to read my horror feature script. We had a lovely email conversation. They'll get back to me whenever they can. One down, maybe a lot more to go, we'll see. Anyway, I'm just cautioning not to put all eggs in one virutal basket.
Yeah, I always cringe a little when someone reports back excited that Zero Gravity accepted their read request. What's been a weird experience for me is switching to the other side and going to their agents as a producer looking for an actor. Talk about the shoe being on the other foot.
Loving that list of points, Andrea.
I started VPF last July and have probably made about 15 pitches so far with about 50 percent asking to see a particular script. That's the good news. The bad news, in my opinion, is that the platform is basically a creative "black hole." Somebody asks to see your script, but then you never hear from them again. The web site tells you to follow up after three weeks, but even then all you will get is crickets. I had two requests last July, for example, and that's all I've heard. So you may get someone agreeing to consider your script, but don't expect any follow up beyond that.
Actually, the rejections turn out to be m ore revealing because the producers at least give you the courtesy of acknowledging your script and, often, a short explanation as to why it doesn't work for them.
I'm working on a new script and I'll like send it out to a few producers here. Why? It's like that old Woody Allen joke. "My wife thinks she's a chicken." "Really? Why don't you convince her otherwise?" "I can't. I need the eggs."
David: I totally agree that the rejections can be more revealing. I've also found it's the smaller producers who are the nicest/most helpful. The one who corresponded with me a few times last July was so nice and very humble. His honesty was a breath of fresh air. He also didn't completely shut the door after telling me he didn't think he wanted an ensemble script... but might change his mind. It may have been a soft pass, but I'll always remember his kindness.
I hadn't sent pitches via VPF since July, but sent two this week. I remembered Zero Gravity's reputation on this thread but decided to give them a whirl (for the low cost of $7.86) since my comedy seemed to align with what they're looking for at this time. BREAKING NEWS: Apparently, they do NOT request every script--ha ha! The other company had a nice response, but passed as well. Onward!
It's VPFs time for the 8 pitches for $55 again. Here, their excuse is Cyber-Monday; so that means today and tomorrow, Monday Nov-28, I guess.
I see that this is my first purchase of VPF since October 2021. My note to myself reads "8 for $55 = $69" (that's what it cost me in my Canadian dollars in 2021). Today, those same 8 cost me $77. Inflation, I suppose, interacting with my ever-sinking Canuck-buck.
That's the best deal they offer annually, I think, Steve. Thanks for the reminder.