Max Adams Teaches Pitching your Screenplay

I attended The Hollywood Filmmaking and Screenings Meetup at the Neon Venus Art Theater on Melrose last night. Max Adams presented “Pitching a movie script.” Max is the author of The Screenwriter’s Survival Guide and has worked with Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Universal, Tri-Star and Columbia Pictures. Her produced works include Excess Baggage [credited] and The Ladykillers [uncredited].

Max gave a standing room only group of about 70 people a refresher on the basics with a few great tips. She says establishing genre is the most important thing you can do when you start your meeting.  You need to give the suits “permission” to laugh.  Then establish a verbal 3 paragraph essay – this is what I am going to tell you, then tell them your story and conclude with, this is what I just told you. Also tell them who is the protagonist.

Max also shared some good advice for a new independent film maker – shoot the money scene first – even if it isn’t convenient, so that you can pacify the executive producers immediately. Otherwise, if you show them basic early footage, they’ll wonder what you are doing with their money.

Never give anyone in your meetings your notes, which can sometimes lead to issues with stealing ideas and worse. She has seen an increase in visual aids, especially story boards and video presentations. If you are calling agents or executives, try after 6pm when their assistants have gone home for the day.  Don’t tell them you are a new writer looking for an agent, even if that’s the case: just tell them you have something you want them to read.

All in all, Max gave an entertaining presentation and her book is supposedly pretty helpful. She says the only outdated information is the “screenwriter’s uniform,” and showed us her blazer. She said for women to try not to look girly or they would assume you are an actress, not a writer.

Max has online workshops at The Academy of Film Writing if you are interested in learning more, visit http://newacademy.us/classes.htm.