Your goal is not “yes.” Your goal is the next step.

How to Pitch a Hollywood Movie

A pitch is a compression skill: you take a big story and convert it into a decision-ready package. You are not performing confidence. You are reducing uncertainty.

Principles 30 seconds 3 minutes 12 minutes Pitch deck Q&A

Pro rule: Don’t pitch the entire script. Pitch the movie the buyer can sell.

1) The pitch principles that keep you alive

Most pitches fail because they’re too long, too vague, or too self-centered (“what I want”). Buyers want: what the audience gets and how the project succeeds.

Clarity over cleverness: if they can’t repeat it, they can’t buy it.
Specificity over adjectives: don’t say “dark,” show the kind of dark.
Energy from engine: conflict, stakes, and momentum create excitement.
Control your time: stop before they’re tired.
End with next step: “I can send the script / deck / budget band / talent targets.”
The real win: you want them to say “Send it” or “Let’s take another meeting.”

2) The 30-second pitch (logline + promise)

This is the “can you sell it?” moment. Keep it tight and watchable.

30-second structure

Logline: protagonist + goal + obstacle + hook.
Tone: one sentence with a clean comp reference (not ego comps).
Audience: who is it for, in one line.
Avoid: “It’s a story about…” and then theme. Lead with action and conflict.

3) The 3-minute pitch (what most meetings really are)

Many “pitch meetings” are short. You need a version that lands hard, fast.

  1. 0:00–0:30 — Logline + tone

    Say it clean. Then stop. Let them feel it.

    Hook

  2. 0:30–1:30 — Setup + inciting incident

    Introduce protagonist, pressure, and the event that forces action.

    Engine

  3. 1:30–2:30 — Escalation + stakes

    Two big obstacles that show why the movie is worth watching.

    Heat

  4. 2:30–3:00 — Ending promise + next step

    Don’t summarize every plot beat. Promise the payoff.

    Next
Rule: If they interrupt with questions, you’re winning. Answer briefly and return to the engine.

4) The 12-minute pitch (when they give you real time)

This is your “I can deliver a coherent movie” version. Still: don’t do a full plot recitation. Hit the major beats and the emotional experience.

Opening: logline + tone + why you (personal angle, short).
Act 1: setup → inciting incident → point of no return.
Act 2: escalation → midpoint shift → no-way-out pressure.
Act 3: climax promise + ending taste (not every detail).
Market: comps + audience + why now.
Execution: budget band + attachments plan + next deliverables.
If you run long, you lose authority. Rehearse to finish early.

5) Pitch deck structure (what the buyer wants to see)

A deck is not a screenplay in slides. A deck is a decision tool.

Core deck sections

Title + tagline
Logline
Tone & comps
Synopsis (1–2 pages)
Main characters
World / look / feel

Business slides (often missing)

Audience definition
Comparable titles (honest)
Budget band (real)
Distribution strategy
Team / attachments plan
Common deck mistake: pretty images, no decision logic. Add audience + comps + budget band + distribution path.

6) Q&A (the questions you must be ready for)

Most meetings end with questions. If you answer cleanly, you look professional.

What’s the budget? Give a band, not a fantasy number.
Why you? Short personal hook: access, obsession, lived knowledge, unique angle.
Who’s the audience? Specific people, not “everyone.”
What are the comps? 2–3 honest titles that prove tone and market.
How do we sell it? festival, streamer fit, genre market, international angle.
What’s the risk? name the risks and show mitigation.
If anyone offers “guaranteed greenlight” for money, treat it as a red flag. Read Scams & Red Flags.