When pitching a project, you may run into unexpected opportunities or pitfalls, such as the opportunity to pitch to a network that you weren't anticipating (such as during a pitching convention), or you'll meet or be connected to an investor who may be willing to fund your project. The problem is that your project may not be a perfect fit as-is. At that stage, you'll typically have to choose or find a balance between seeing your story through as you originally intended but risking your project to never be picked up at all, or making the changes that would give your story the advantage it needs for the network/investor you're pitching to. Below are 5 different scenarios, one of which will/has been chosen at random. Everyone will have the same scenario (and thus everyone will be creating solutions for the same problem.
Scenario 1
After a successful pitch to a television network, the
executives love your work, but don’t feel that your project has a place in
their current line up. However, they do
have an opening coming up in their daytime lineup. The problem?
The target audience is 6-12 year old boys. If you can modify your pitch to fit this
demographic, they are willing to consider picking it up. Their competitors are Nickelodeon, Cartoon
Network and the Hubb. Their priority is
selling merchandise, so your series should be marketable to young boys. Competing programs include Ben 10, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers
Scenario 2
A friend of a friend of a friend landed you a pitch with a
new up and coming network that’s hungry for new material. The network markets cartoons to adults,
preferring comedy, adult content or shock value. Their competitors are Spike TV, Cartoon
Network’s Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Competing programs include Family Guy, Stripperella, Ren and Stimpy Adult Party, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Archer.
Scenario 3
Through the efforts of Concerned Moms Against Anime, there is
a new, moral/education-focused trend happening in cartoons. Kid’s TV networks are open for your pitch, but
they are looking for age ranges 6-12 (boys or girls) and the story must have a
clear moral and educational value. These
can include learning basic skills such as when to cross the street, what
traffic signs mean and not to talk to strangers, or it could include learning
social skills, such as tolerance, how to treat others, the importance of
sharing, etc. Gender is not an issue, nor is merchandising and the story doesn't have to be only about education (it can have a plot), but education is the priority. Competing programs include Steven Universe, The Magic Schoolbus, My Little Pony, Avatar
Scenario 4
Networks focusing on pre-school programs such as Dora the
Explorer, Blue’s Clues, Eureka’s Castle and others are looking for the next big
hit. If you can modify your pitch to
entertain girls or boys, ages 3-6, you can pass it to them before the spot
fills up!
Scenario 5
You have a pitching opportunity with a network that’s
looking for a series targeting 6-12 year old girls. The priority is on selling merchandise, so
your series should feel marketable to young girls. Competing programs include My Little Pony, Monster High, Equestra Girls.
In this version, since you already know who your characters are and what your story is about, there will be no need for the concept storyboards or moodboards. We will jump straight into the character re-designs. You know who your characters are by now, and it's just a matter of stylistically fitting them to the new setting.
Upcoming Deadlines
10/19: Speculative Sketches of your Original 3 Characters in the New Style
10/21: Evolutionary Sketches of your original 3 characters, based on the chosen Speculative sketch, in the new style.
10/26: Color and value tests for your chosen Evolutionary Sketches
11/2: Final turnarounds in the new style
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