It's that time of year again — Coverfly Pitch Week. And this year's line-up of agents, managers, producers, and studio execs have selected 123 screenwriters for nearly 250 pitches! In fact, many talented screenwriters who submitted to Pitch Week were selected to pitch their scripts to more than one industry decision-maker. Here's a quick look at how Coverfly Pitch Week selection works, and a few of the common factors that we found between our roster of successful screenwriters that were chosen to pitch this year.
How many screenwriters were chosen for Coverfly Pitch Week (September 2020)?
- 123 screenwriters were selected for 250 pitches total
- Just under half of all writers were selected for at least 2 separate pitches
- 12 writers were chosen for 3 pitches
- 7 writers were tapped for 4 pitches
- 6 writers are pitching to 5 groups
- 5 writers were selected for 6 different pitches
- And one talented screenwriter was selected for 8 separate pitches!
This Pitch Week is absolutely jam-packed with top-tier writers, agents, managers, Hollywood literary agents, and development execs from companies like CAA, Good Fear, Circle of Confusion, Zero Gravity, Lee Stobby Entertainment, Cartel Entertainment, Management 360, and many more. If you want to learn how these screenwriters were chosen and what they have in common, read this writer roundup so you're ready to pitch at our next Pitch Week — February 21-25, 2021.
How screenwriters get chosen for Pitch Week: 3 things they have in common
The selection process for Coverfly Pitch Week is full of intangibles and variables. However, we were able to find some common trends among the 123 writers that were selected to pitch to industry professionals. Here are three of our biggest takeaways for how to make your profile, logline, and scripts stand out so you can pitch to Hollywood decision-makers:
A strong personal bio
Nearly every single writer that was selected to pitch this year has a professional bio on their screenwriting profile. Not only that, each of these bios lets development executives know exactly what kind of screenwriter they're looking at. Pitch Week writers clearly state who they are, what kind of screenplays they write, what their goals are, and how their professional experiences have influenced not just their most recent screenplays, but all of their work. The first step to getting your screenplay pitch ready is filling out your writer's bio. Make yours as descriptive as you can.
A clear photo that captures their personality
Every single one of the top selected writers for Pitch Week this year had a clear, professional photo on their profile. It's 2020. There's no excuse not to have a decent, posed profile picture on your personal or Coverfly screenwriter page. You can even get a decent picture with portrait mode on an old iPhone. Find a friend or grab a tripod and take a good picture of yourself.
If you want to get your script in front of industry insiders you need to have a profile picture on your site. End of story.
Add multiple projects to your profile
All of the top selected writers each have multiple projects on their profile pages. And while these scripts and projects varied from features to TV they were all consistent in voice, style, and tone. Use your profile to highlight your range. It's ok to write for TV and for Film. In fact, writing in multiple formats can make you an enticing candidate for studios looking for diverse and multi-talented screenwriters.
How to get selected for Coverfly Pitch Week
Pitch Week is your chance to get your screenplay in front of some of the most influential managers, producers, and agents in Hollywood. Learn more about how you (and your script!) can prepare for the next Coverfly Pitch Week here. And remember, Pitch Week is free for Coverfly members, so sign up now!
