Make Your Film
Emmy Winning Producer & Director Denis O'Brien gives you step-by-step tips on all facets of production: TV, film, commercial, or documentary. How do we make a budget, where do we shoot, and who shoots it? Much more to come each week.
Make Your Film
Episode 19: What's the Story?
Episode 19: What's the Story?
Welcome back, this is Denis O’Brien from MakeYourFilm.net, your daily source of wisdom for aspiring producers. Today’s focus is on one of the most critical aspects of filmmaking: the story—and how to effectively communicate it.
What’s the Story?
If you’re making a film—especially one you wrote—ask yourself: What’s the story? Can you sum it up in a logline? If you can nail the logline, you can build from there: a synopsis, a pitch, and ultimately, a compelling package.
A friend of mine joked recently, “You should write the logline before the script.” They’re not wrong—because if you can’t distill your story into one sharp sentence, it might not be ready yet.
Mastering Your Pitches
Here’s how to break it down:
- The Logline
- One or two sentences that capture the essence of your film. This is your foundation.
- Make it tight and impactful—every word matters.
- The Elevator Pitch - A 2-3 minute version of your story. Imagine you’re in an elevator with a producer or investor—you need to get them hooked before the doors open.
- The Full Room Pitch - A longer, 10-15 minute version. This is for presentations or meetings where you have the floor. Use this time to build on the logline and elevator pitch, diving into the characters, themes, and unique selling points of your film.
A Producer’s Journey
When you’re standing up a film, it’s like running for office. You’re constantly pitching—tailoring your language to the audience in front of you. Every meeting, every pitch, is different, but this is part of the journey.
Relax. You can do this.
Key Takeaways
- Iron out the logline. Get it tight and right—it’s your anchor.
- Perfect your 3-minute pitch. Sell your story confidently without overwhelming your audience.
- Develop the longer version. Use this for full-room presentations, making your voice and vision stand out.
- Practice makes perfect. Over time, your delivery will become second nature, and you’ll feel confident creating supporting documents and websites to complement your pitch.
There’s never been a better time to make a film. Check out MakeYourFilm.net for more resources, links, and videos.
Now go, go make your film!
See more at http://MakeYourFilm.net.