Expert: Russell Calabrese - 1/4/2010

Question
I have bene working on a Cartoon Series for daytime television for an audience of roughly 7-13 years old for some time. I have a basic synopsis, setting, character drawings, and a few other things here and there, but I had a few questions on how I should approach a pitch. Sorry if I'm about to bombard you with questions, but I really don't have connections in the field so I have no other way of knowing.

1. When pitching a cartoon series, what sorts of things should your portfolio and presentation include and what sorts of things should you make copies of so the people you are giving the pitch to can keep?

2. What sorts of copyrighting or protection should you aquire before pitching anything?

3. Who should you pitch this ideas to, and is there a list somewhere you can aquire of names and contact information for pitching?

4. Does it really matter if you live in a different state or something than the person you are pitching to?

5. Is there a good time to pitch, like a particular season when networks are lokoing for new shows?


I'm sorry if that was a lot of questions but I'm very eager to finally present the fruits of my labor to a company and I want to make sure I give the best presentation possible. Thank you so much in advance for your time and patience in this matter.

Answer
Hello Kezia,

1. A bible of the show with concept description, character descriptions, illustrations and synopses of episode ideas.

2. Have your work copyrighted to protect yourself. Speak with an agent or attorney, if possible, to help you protect your intellectual property.

3. Pitch to agents or the head of development at a studio. Call and ask who's in charge. Make an appointment and show your work. The more you have of finished art and concepts the better your chances.

4. If you can send the package and discuss it over the phone, you don't have to be in the same room, state, or country. Make sure they want to meet with you. Most studios don't take unsolicited materials because there's a possibility of the studio is already working on a similar project and won't want to have a law suit. It's tough to come up with a truly 'unique' idea.

5. There are pitch seasons, but any time is really good. A good idea shouldn't have to wait to be pitched. It may take a while before you get a positive response.


Hope this helps.

ой
Russell