FROM ITCH TO PITCH: Turning those comedy show ideas into a sellable pitch!

From ITCH to PITCH Transform your funny idea to a sellable show. Mike Larsen is an Emmy-nominated television writer with a 20 year career writing for multiple top-10 shows. He’s developed dozens of original television scripts and screenplays, and is a master at pitching and selling new projects, having sold 15 novel ideas to major studios, all four tv networks, the BBC, and Disney. This two-day workshop begins with your original idea, and culminates with a first draft of a pitch directed at a specific media platform.

While this workshop is geared towards comedy, writers of all genres could benefit from Mike's insights and experience.

7/12 - Saturday 10am -2pm - DAY ONE - BUILD THE UNIVERSE

You will arrive with an original funny idea. It could be a well-developed outline or simply a comic premise (an itch). [You’ll be provided with a few questions to help prepare.] From your idea, you will identify and build characters, locations, and their relationships to each other. You’ll determine your target audience, and which studio/network/ streamer is your best bet for selling the show. You’ll be challenged to make hard decisions for the good of the show, discarding derivative ideas and familiar characters and replacing them with brilliance that can only come from your unique take on the world. You’ll boil down your character and location relationships into a clear, short, and funny “elevator pitch.”

7/13 - Sunday 10am-2pm - DAY TWO - BREAK THE STORY

You’ll show up on Sunday with a well-established universe and a clear and funny elevator pitch. You’ll have an idea about the tone and style of your show and specific prototypes for your main characters. You’ll collaborate with other writers to expand creative options for your story. You’ll learn how to use a platform’s existing programming to tailor your idea to increase the likelihood of a sale. Understanding that a successful pitch goes through many passes/ rewrites/notes, you’ll leave the second day with a solid foundation for your series that you’ll build on with further work. By Sunday afternoon, you should be able to articulate three things: 1. The story, including its locations & characters, and how it’s funny; 2. The audience, including why they’ll watch and their value to the buyer; 3. Why you are the one-and-only writer who can execute your vision in a way that surpasses the buyer’s expectation.

Snacks will be provided and there will be a lunch break.

*** If you or someone you know is interested in attending the workshop but is currently facing challenges due to financial constraints, please email us. We have limited scholarships available. ***

July 12-13: Writing/pitch Workshop with Mike Larsen – OHD Studios

August 8-9: Preproduction Workshop – Location TBD

August 23-24: Production Workshop – OHD Studios

September 20-21: Virtual/volume wall Production Workshop – OHD Studios

October 4-5: Post-Production Workshop – Vital Studios

Dates TBD: Creating Your Pitch Deck Workshop – Location TBD

Brought to you by Film Columbus, Greater Columbus Arts Council

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