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How to Pitch a TV Show: Advice from an Experienced Creator and Showrunner

If you want to know everything that goes into the creative and business sides of selling a TV show, you want to learn from someone who has been in the trenches and sold shows herself. 

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Jordana Arkin is an Emmy-nominated television writer with experience in live action and animation. 

She co-developed STAR VS. THE FORCES OF EVIL for Disney and created PROJECT MC2 for Netflix. 

She has developed and/or sold 20 pilot/series pitches. Ten of those pilots went into production. Seven went to series. Buyers have included Disney, ABC, Nickelodeon, and Netflix. 

With decades of experience pitching to networks, developing pilots, and supervising writers, she knows the ins and outs of what a TV writer needs to know about your project in order to put yourself in the best position possible to sell it. 

Then, what to expect after you make the sale.

And in this course, she passes this knowledge on to you.

How to Pitch a TV Show

This is a 1-hour video that walks you through everything you need to know about pitching and selling:

  • Which materials you'll need to have ready.
  • What information your pitch should include.
  • Suggestions for visuals vs. no visuals.
  • Tips on how to stand out in a competitive market.
  • Strategies regarding the packaging process.
  • Rundown of the steps in the typical development process.
  • How to navigate "development hell."
  • How to work with and create lasting relationships with executives, even if your project doesn't move forward.
  • Red flags for "free development work" and what to watch out for.
  • What you should ask for in your deal.
  • Recorded Q&A.

Who we are:

Your pitch mentor will be Jordana Arkin, who was most recently an EP/Co-Creator at Netflix and Co-EP on Disney’s RAVEN’S HOME. She’s an Emmy-nominated, Annie Award winning, upper-level writer who has experience in live action and animation. Jordana has also worked as a Supervising Producer on Netflix’s FULLER HOUSE and MELISSA & JOEY (FREEFORM), a Producer on Mike Judge’s THE GOODE FAMILY (ABC), SONS & DAUGHTERS (ABC) and SIGNIFICANT OTHERS (NBC/Universal). She was the Co-Developer/Co-EP/Head Writer of STAR vs THE FORCES of EVIL and was the EP/Creator of PROJECT MC² for Netflix and Awesomeness TV. 

Moderating the Q&A will be Audrey Knox, a literary manager at Cartel, with clients in film and television. She has a client currently writing a pilot for ABC and a writer taking out a pitch with Broadway Video (SNL, 30 ROCK). Her clients have staffed on shows including REASONABLE DOUBT, SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE, GINNY & GEORGIA, P-VALLEY, THE UPSHAWS, GROWN-ISH, NANCY DREW, TOM SWIFT, RAISING DION, and ROBOT CHICKEN. Her feature clients have written feature films including ALICE, DARLING (Lionsgate), CRUSHED (Tubi), THE SANTA SUMMIT (Hallmark), and the SINGLE BLACK FEMALE franchise (Lifetime). Audrey worked her way up from Receptionist in 2016 to Manager in 2018.

 

 

You have a great idea for a TV show... Now what?

 

So many writers have the potential to become Show Creators, but the business side of film and TV can be secretive and confusing. 

With this course, the process of selling a TV show will become crystal clear. You will know exactly what materials you need to have ready and exactly what skills to master in order to make a network say "yes" to your pitch. 

Jordana will share insights from her years working in TV.

This will show you exactly what you need to do.

 

 

Who is this for?

 

There are 3 types of Show Creators:

  1. Brilliant writers who don't know the first thing about this industry but have a killer idea.
  2. Experienced screenwriters who have written multiple pilots but keep getting told that they don't have the potential to carry a whole TV series.
  3. Working writers who want to sell a show but haven't had any luck breaking through.

With Jordana as your kind, funny, and experienced guide, you will be able to identify the roadblocks in the process that have been stopping you, and you will be given actionable tools for turning your pitch into something that buyers will be excited to hear.

 

Jordana was one of the first Showrunners to staff me, and I owe much of my subsequent career to the things she taught me in her writers’ room. She was the first boss I had who broke down the necessary ingredients one needs to tell simple, yet unexpected and engaging stories. And she helped me successfully navigate high-pressure situations by showing me ways to improve the creative and interpersonal issues I was struggling with as an inexperienced writer.

- Nate Federman (Story Editor on Disney Channels’s BIG CITY GREENS; Story Editor on DreamWorks’ TROLLS: THE BEAT GOES ON)

Jordana gave me the confidence to believe in myself as a writer, making sure I didn’t communicate to her or others by saying I am ‘trying to become’ a writer and instead stating that I am a writer, even in my aspiring years. Also, there’s the idea in Hollywood that you only get one shot. Jordana often reminded me that wasn’t always true. So don’t be afraid to reach out to people because maybe they can give advice on your writing instead of thinking everything you send out has to be so perfect and ready and becoming so fearful of your writing that you never send to anyone cause it may never be as ready as you want it.

- Angela Marie Hutchinson (Writer, A CHRISTMAS MOVIE FOR MARY for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network; Writer/Producer, HOLLYWOOD CHAOS for Peacock; Showrunner, SOMETHING ABOUT LARRAY for Brat TV and Facebook Watch)

Jordana Arkin, a hilarious comedy writer and teacher at heart, is full of engaging anecdotal advice ranging from navigating TV staffing to surviving the development landscape with a smile.

- Michael Cobian (Co-Producer on Starz’s POWER BOOK IV: FORCE) 

I met Jordana when I was first starting my writing career, and I am so glad I did. She brings pragmatic optimism and kind honesty to every conversation we have, and I learn something invaluable from her each time we chat, no matter the turns my career has taken since we last spoke. The well-earned wisdom she brings is invaluable, but the kindness with which she shares it makes conversing with her a joy. I am lucky to call her a friend and a mentor.

- Stuart Friedel (Staff Writer on Disney Jr.’s ALICE’S WONDERLAND BAKERY; Co-EP on HELLO JACK! THE KINDNESS SHOW)

Jordana was such a delight when we first met. I was a new writer, green with curiosity and desire for the business. What stood out most is her kindness. She also offered great advice like: knowing my value—your agent should be working for you. If you’re not getting what you need, don’t be afraid to find representation that champions you. Also, network—meet people and keep in touch all the time. You never know who will connect you to your next gig. And probably most important, to affirm myself. She said one thing she knows for sure about herself: ‘I can write.’ I always remember that and say it out loud in moments of rejection or failure or a tough turn. I get back to doing what I do best: write. And things always pan out.

- Crescent Novell (Writer, Unannounced Netflix project; Staff Writer on Marvel and Disney’s MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR)

Writers trying to sell a TV show face these big problems:

 

  • Finally getting the opportunity to pitch but squandering it by not being ready.
  • Not knowing what material you should include in your pitch.
  • Pitches are turned down because they are too short and vague.
  • Audience tunes out your pitch because it goes on for too long. 
  • Having a strong pilot script but not being able to convey the series long story.
  • Having interest in your show but being worried about getting taken advantage of.
  • Knowing that packaging is important but being unable to convince people to join your project. 

With Jordana and Audrey on your side, you will have a step-by-step action plan for developing the skills, materials, and network needed to overcome these hurdles.

Benefits Unlocked

 

Short Term:

  1. A checklist of what information to include in your pitch.
  2. Techniques for pitching with confidence, even when you're nervous.
  3. A list of common pitfalls to avoid.
  4. Mental strategies for not taking the development process personally. 

Long Term:

  1. Seeing your name as a writer on the screen.
  2. Friends and family calling you after seeing your announcement in Deadline.
  3. Hearing famous actors say lines you have written.
  4. Residuals that come in those lovely green envelopes. Nothing beats that.
  5. Millions of dollars made over the course of your long writing career.

 

GET INSTANT ACCESS TO

How to Pitch a TV Show

This course includes:

  • 1 hour of exclusive lecture content with insider knowledge about the TV development process for production companies, studios, broadcast networks, cable channels, and streamers.
  • 30 minutes of recorded Q&A with an experienced Showrunner and Show Creator.
  • 2 winning pitch templates for Drama and Comedy TV pitches, provided directly from the studio executives who are buying shows right now.

HOW TO PITCH A TV SHOW

$100

  • 90 minutes of recorded video content.
  • Drama series pitch template.
  • Comedy series pitch template. 
GET ACCESS NOW

Professional Screenwriter Bundle

$300

Instant Access to All 4 Courses

  • How to Pitch a TV Show
  • How to Sign with a Literary Manager
  • How to Adapt IP
  • How to Get Staffed on a TV Show

Total Value: $500

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Professional Screenwriter Bundle + Pitch Consultation

$550

  • All 4 courses in Professional Screenwriter Bundle
  • Hour-long meeting for practice pitch + feedback.
  • Pitch material review. 

Total Value: $700

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