The Perfect Pitch: How to Sell Yourself and Your Movie Idea to Hollywood

Rating:
Summary: Pitching your Script!
Review: "The PERFECT PITCH is the perfect book to read before you pitch your script to any Hollywood Agent or Producer. it will not get you into the room, but it will increase your chances of getting the player behind the desk to read your screenplay." -- RMS

Rating:
Summary: Pitching your Script!
Review: "The PERFECT PITCH is the perfect book to read before you pitch your script to any Hollywood Agent or Producer. it will not get you into the room, but it will increase your chances of getting the player behind the desk to read your screenplay." -- RMS

Rating:
Summary: Definitive!
Review: Anyone entering the murky waters of trying to market a screenplay to Hollywood will be well-served by this primer. THE PERFECT PITCH explains the system to the neophyte, and then it goes on to give constructive advice as to how to work within the system to achieve that elusive goal of selling one's script.

Anyone who has written a screenplay--or anyone who is considering writing a screenplay--will be well-served by the abundance of information provided here. Author Ken Rotcop is one of the best respected of that legion of experts who participate in servicing the Hollywood newcomer, and his work here has been nicely assisted by the organizational skills provided by his editor, James K. Shea.

THE PERFECT PITCH clearly is the best of its class of primers and manuals. It's the real deal, the definitive book on the tricky art of pitching one's story.

Rating:
Summary: So painfully bad...
Review: I only managed to finish this book by convincing myself that it must have at least one nugget of wisdom to impart. One technique that is actually practical. One tip that is not flat out ridiculous.

Unfortunately I was wrong. What Mr. Rotcop offers up here is a blend of the absurdly obvious ("Don't bring a 96-ounced drink to the executive's desk. It will leave a wet ring." Page 44. & "Never be late for an appointment" Page 45.) with the just plain absurd (Use action figures to act out your pitch. Or dress up as a superhero to give your pitch. Page 27.)

This book is absolutely useless.

Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Uninformative
Review: I'm not particularly religious. But this book inspired me to research all Gods, long buried or still alive, so I might beseech them to give me the two hours back that I decimated reading this book.

It might give you the inkling of the environment of the pitch, but otherwise the book doesn't help you develop, write, work on a physical or verbal pitch on any level worth taking to a meeting. I've seen professional writers (eg. working writers) talk about pitching, and what's offered here is, at best, passing opinions. That, linked with the constant dropping of the Rotcop?s accomplishments like ?pitchmart?, buries this book?s credibility, and seals it with an iron lid.

Spend your money on one of the other books on pitching. Though I haven't read them, they have to be better. Or buy a book about storytelling. Or spend the money buying your friends coffee and pitch them to get practice. Or dig a hole and throw your money in that.

Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Uninformative
Review: I'm not particularly religious. But this book inspired me to research all Gods, long buried or still alive, so I might beseech them to give me the two hours back that I decimated reading this book.

It might give you the inkling of the environment of the pitch, but otherwise the book doesn't help you develop, write, work on a physical or verbal pitch on any level worth taking to a meeting. I've seen professional writers (eg. working writers) talk about pitching, and what's offered here is, at best, passing opinions. That, linked with the constant dropping of the Rotcop's accomplishments like 'pitchmart', buries this book's credibility, and seals it with an iron lid.

Spend your money on one of the other books on pitching. Though I haven't read them, they have to be better. Or buy a book about storytelling. Or spend the money buying your friends coffee and pitch them to get practice. Or dig a hole and throw your money in that.

Rating:
Summary: SAMUEL GOLDWYN MEETS EDWARD BERNAYS MEETS TONY ROBBINS
Review: Ken Rotcop has done something no one else has: compiled more than 30 years' experience in 150+ pages of breezy conversation for experienced and would-be writers of screenplays. The book is more than a tool for developing and honing your various forms of the BIG PITCH; it is a superior sales tool that teaches the reader how to be a saleperson.

Granted, entire volumes could be written that detail the selling process, in step-by-step, Betty Crocker fashion. Ken takes the best of the best sales tools on the market and combines them with real-world examples to produce a superior demo of how to design and build your pitch, how to approach potential producers and studio executives, and how to get them to read your script.

Ken explains to us that life is a pitch. In one example, he shares with us how one of his workshop participant's memorable moments: "I joined Ken's workshop because I was told if you want to learn how to pitch, he's the guy to see. A few weeks later, I met the girl of my dreams. After we dated a while, I proposed. Well, not exactly proposed, rather I pitched her on why she should marry me. She said yes! Damn, that Rotcop's good!"

The Perfect Pitch includes priceless info on how to develop the various pitches: synopsis/treatment, log line, phone pitch and query letter, with examples of each one.

What's more, Ken shares many insider secrets that a beginning screenwriter may not learn until they've had several years in the biz. He provides a list of key questions studio people ask screenwriters, how they're likely to respond to gimmicks and props, gives 15 essential points for young writers, shows writers how to overcome fear and insecurity (heck, it's all just chemistry: change your behavior and you change your chemistry; change that and you change your life!), shares what top agents and producers like to see in the way of pitches, tips from writers who've successfully pitched their work and sold their screenplays, what types of attachments to include with your pitch, lists contests that writers should consider entering, and concludes with some poignant thoughts about giving The Perfect Pitch.

This book is a MUST HAVE, not only for screewriters, but also writers of novels and nonfiction. You must learn to be a consummate salesperson. You must learn to pitch yourself and your work to agents, editors, publishers, producers, studio executives, etc.

And, of course, if you're in the market for a "dream guy" or "dream girl," you must learn to pitch to them, as well.

And if this book's advice and knowledge weren't enough, readers are told how to contact Ken about participating in his workshops and the world-famous Pitchmart, where 25 studio executives and producers come together twice a year to listen to pitches by Ken's students. You must be a workshop student to pitch here. You owe it to yourself to read The Perfect Pitch, contact Ken and then pitch your work to top people. Even if you don't want to sell your work to those participating studio people, it gives one the opportunity to rehearse! rehearse! rehearse!

Our literary agency uses The Perfect Pitch, and has sold half a dozen fiction and nonfiction books, plus optioned one script. What's more, each of our pitches has resulted in a senior editor or VP Development asking to see the book or script. It's hard to beat results like that! There're another half-dozen projects in the wings, waiting to be pitched a la The Perfect Pitch by Ken Rotcop!

Dean Garner
KNI Literary
Santa Barbara, California

Rating:
Summary: Being the best possible agent for your own idea
Review: The Perfect Pitch: How To Sell Yourself And Your Movie Idea To Hollywood by Ken Rotcop (written with the assistance of James K. Shea) is a solid and practical guide to being the best possible agent for your own idea, story, or screenplay. From learning how to best pitch your story in two minutes or less, to reacting quickly and on the spot, improving communication, and getting to see Hollywood's big-time movers in the first place, The Perfect Pitch is a rock-solid foundation and a very highly recommended "how to" reference for any aspiring writers seeking to turn their film script ideas into box office movies.

Rating:
Summary: Marginal at Best
Review: This book doesn't deliver what you're looking for. First of all, Mr. Rotcop says he was head of four studios. When I hear "studio" I'm thinking UNIVERSAL, PARAMOUNT, MGM...not small production companies that own studio eqpt and lot space...that turn out B pictures straight to video or third rate cable TV.
Secondly, the book doesn't seem to be much more than an advertisement for his workshop. I hope that his workshop is good--however, the book leaves quite a bit to be desired. It is odd to me that he has trouble giving "evidence" of success stories based on his own Pitchmart other than a few stories of B/straight to video pieces. In a word I was UNDERWHELMED.

Rating:
Summary: Marginal at Best
Review: This book doesn't deliver what you're looking for. First of all, Mr. Rotcop says he was head of four studios. When I hear "studio" I'm thinking UNIVERSAL, PARAMOUNT, MGM...not small production companies that own studio eqpt and lot space...that turn out B pictures straight to video or third rate cable TV.
Secondly, the book doesn't seem to be much more than an advertisement for his workshop. I hope that his workshop is good--however, the book leaves quite a bit to be desired. It is odd to me that he has trouble giving "evidence" of success stories based on his own Pitchmart other than a few stories of B/straight to video pieces. In a word I was UNDERWHELMED.