What do you do when you get that blank stare?

You know that your script is a masterpiece and Hollywood needs great material. But how does anyone know when they seemed to get lost in your pitch. You explain it or at least try. But they don’t get it. Don’t fret. Step back and remember why you wrote screenplay and all that passion that drove you. Then think back and realize what makes a great movie …

It’s story. It’s intrigue. Storytelling begin back in Aristotle’s time. It was Aristotle that came that come up with the 3 act structure. Yeah, Hollywood just know it works.

Gustav Fretag evolved the 3 act structure into 5 components –
1) exposition
2) diving into the action
3) climax
4) falling action
5) denouement (i.e., resolution).

Can you create a physical reaction? If your screenplay is a comedy, you need to get people laughing within the first few minutes. If it is a thriller or action then the reader or listener needs to have the uncontrollable urge to lean forward and beg for what happens next with sense of tension.

You have to grab their attention and create an immediate physical reaction appropriate to your primary genre. In your story, there needs to be a likeable hero who encounters obstacles and then emerge transformed. This takes us through a character arc.

In a previous Sherwood Oaks article, it was demonstrated that even big budget films fail at the box office because they did not create a likeable hero regarding the Green Lantern.

If you are not sure if you are on target, get a jump-start with a 10-minute consult for only $25 with a 30-year film veteran, see our pitching.

Incite your audience. Get your script optioned.

Pitching/Consulting Assistance

Reprint only with permission

Approximately 50 companies are invited to this event. In our sold out pitching event last October 2011, every participant pitched to at least 20 different guests in one day.

Pitching
Two to three minutes to pitch and 2 to 3 minutes to listen to the guest’s thoughts on your pitch in a private one-on-one pitching. Then, you move on to the next table. There are a few breaks between pitches but it usually an intense day where you pitch often. Think volume. This is the strategy that if you hit the right person that resonates with your project then you will succeed. You will meet a lot of people.

Bring at least 50 one-sheets to this event.

This is similar to larger pitch events with private pitching but we are limiting attendance to 100 people.

Although many “pitch fests” claim to offer the same experience, the truth of the matter is that the typical pitch fest will accept any representative from a production company – often a receptionist, who cannot offer the same caliber of feedback that the decision-makers themselves can.  Sherwood Oaks only invites seasoned Producers and industry professionals who will provide useful feedback on improving your pitch.

We cannot guarantee the companies that you can pitch to but we do promise one of the best ratios in any pitch event.

Last October 2011, our pitching event was ranked high by producers. To ensure your pitch is ready, we recommend practicing and getting a one on one pitching for 10 minute coaching. Also, we recommend the class the day before on July 13 to increase your odds for getting your material optioned.

Last October 2011, student, Aaron Lerner got representation from the Sherwood Oaks College pitching event.

About 1/3 of the students got script requests from our last pitching event, this is your opportunity.

The following guests are invited (and are mostly likely to attend):
Will Smith’s company*
Imagine (Ron Howard’s company)*
Alcon (Blindside)
Lawrence Mark company (Julie & Julia, Dreamgirls)
Broken Road Productions (Jack & Jill, Zookeeper, and 14 films in production)
Benderspink Management/Production (Arthur, Red Eye, Monster-in-Law and 30 films in production)
Barry Josephson Productions (TV/Film – Life as we Know It, Enchanted, Bones and 17 films in production)
Radmin Company
Zero Gravity Productions (Low Budget Film – The Cooler, Breathless and 15 films in production)
Madhouse Productions
The Warden Group (Deja Vu, Sleepless in Seattle)

Get to Hear All About Hollywood from Every Different Perspective
1st Panel of 3 to 5 Agents and Managers – ~2 hours
2nd Panel of 3 to 5 Producers – ~2 hours
3rd Panel of 3 to 5 Directors – ~2 hours

For 30 years, Sherwood Oaks been providing the best professionals along with the greatest access.

As many former students have stated, this session you will learn more in one day then you may learn in an entire semester at a film school.    Learn from the pros in the business provide their heartful advice and gain contacts. We work hard to make sure we present guests who are not only at the top of their game but who are genuinely interested in meeting new writers!  

The best part is, that in every Sherwood Oaks course, each student is invited to share their one-sheet with each guest.  So, be sure to bring plenty of copies! See one-sheet information under our Resource tab on our website.

Invited guests include:
Will Smith’s company*
Imagine (Ron Howard’s company)*
Robin William’s production company
Woody Allen’s company
Bill Crystal’s company
Sam Rami’s company*
Richard Donner’s company*
ICM*
UTA*
APA*
William Morris/Endeavor*
Paradigm*
Gersh*

and other guests …

*These guests have attended.
No guest is guaranteed since they are working Hollywood professionals and not teachers but usually about 80% of invited guests attend.* The schedule is updated continuously with the latest speakers.

This class sold out in August and October and February!

Date:           Friday, August 17, 2012 — due to Comicon, date will change to August

Time:           9 am to 5 pm

Location:      Beverly Hills

Registration:           $150/day

Early Bird Registration: $99

Style:            Panel Discussion

This class is limited to the first 90 participants!

Please join us for pitching the following day, Saturday, August 18, 2012 in Beverly Hills

Please email sherwoodoakscollege@gmail.com for more information.

 
*In our close encounter classes, speakers attendance is about 95%. If a cancellation happens then we do our best to fill the slot with an equivalent speaker.

Sell to the top agents and managers in the world.

Spend time getting feedback and learning to pitch before you sell [option] your big screenplay.   This special day is jam-packed with micro-meetings with numerous agents and managers in which students are given up to 3 minutes to pitch their scripts to almost every guest, followed by up to 3 minutes of highly valuable feedback – something you’re not likely to get from your real-world pitches!

This class sold out in February 2012, do NOT miss out.

This practice is known in the industry as “table pitching”, and it is an excellent way to practice this vital skill.  Not only do you get to bend the ear of someone who could potentially fall in love with your idea and want to make your film, but you will hear other students’ pitches as well, which provides an additional opportunity to learn – from your peers.

Table pitching ...
This is for people who are interested in selling their script in addition to learning ways to make that happen. It allows you to have quality time with adequate feedback from a high-level agent or manager. You get 3 minutes to pitch then 3 minutes of feedback then you move onto the next student with one guest around the table. We only have two tables at the time so the noise level is much lower than other pitch events. After 6 minutes the next student pitches to the speaker. This saves time. After the table of 8 students pitch (about 55 minutes) then the guest moves to the next table. Then, after two hours, we have 2 new guests. This goes on the entire day. We may have 3 tables going on depending on when guests arrive and maximize the number of pitches.

Students can only pitch one logline or script per pitch to a guest. You may switch to another script for the next guest.

Why do I care about other people’s pitches
We have found as other pitch, there is a great deal of learning that happens. We get attached to our pitch and our idea but when we hear feedback from someone else who has a similar flawed strategy as we may have then we can more easily see it in others rather than ourselves. This way you can learn and develop your pitch and your material in a more effective manner. It is easier to learn from other’s mistakes rather than our own. Improving your chances at success is our goal. It has worked.
We know you are perfect. We just want everyone to realize how perfect you are.

Compared to other pitching events
Most pitching events have 50 to 600 people. In this event we are limited to 19 students so there are no crowds. We also guarantee a higher caliber of guest.

Although many “pitch fests” claim to offer the same experience, the truth of the matter is that the typical pitch fest will accept any representative from a production company – often a receptionist, who cannot offer the same caliber of feedback that the decision-makers themselves can.  Sherwood Oaks only invites seasoned Producers and industry professionals who will provide useful feedback on improving your pitch.

We cannot guarantee the companies that you can pitch to but we do promise one of the best ratios in any pitch event.

The following guests are invited (and are mostly likely to attend):
William Morris/Endeavor
Benderspink
Zero Gravity
Anonymous Content
Madhouse
The Warden Group
Sheree Guitar
Paul Levine
Lloyd Robinson

This class sold out in August and October and February!

Date:                Friday, May 18, 2012

Time:               9 – 5 pm

Location:       Beverly Hills

Cost:                $295

Style:               Table pitching

Seize your opportunity to create strong Hollywood relationships now!

No site registration is available due to providing students are 2:1 ratio (best in the industy).   Please bring your receipt or canceled check, if your name is not on the registration list (you did not receive an email with the agenda) and don’t have a receipt then we will have to charge you $295.

If you have signed up and have not received your agenda, please immediately emailsherwoodoakscollege@gmail.com with your paypal or canceled check.

Please read a review from our sold-out August 2011 Pitching Class …

I went to the August 23 -25, 2011 Pitching Class/ Session. Within 5 seconds of opening my mouth, Gary shut me down, said it was terrible and taught me the RIGHT WAY  to pitch to big executives. He did the same thing to everyone. HE’S A GENIUS.

Once we had the skills we needed, the actual Sessions started. For the next 7 hours, we pitched our screenplays to one executive after another. THREE of them are reading my screenplay RIGHT NOW!! Of course they don’t accept the scripts there at the session. WOULD YOU CARRY THEM AROUND???

There is nothing that compares to what Gary and Christine do. You’ll network with stars and execs, you couldn’t meet on your own in 10 years, MAYBE IN YOUR LIFETIME!

If you’re trying to break in to Hollywood, check their website regularly for classes and events.

Gary knows and is known by the BIGGEST NAMES IN HOLLYWOOD. His brother did Alien, Minority Reports and many more.  AND they’re the coolest, most down to earth people you could ever meet. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, GOT OUR WORK MOVING FORWARD AND MADE SUPER COOL, SUPER TALENTED NEW FRIENDS.

Mark, writer who drove from San Diego to be here