TRU Writer-Producer Speed Date

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents Writer-Producer Speed Date (The Art of the Pitch) on Sunday March 29, 2015 at 5:30pm and 6:30pm at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street, 3rd floor. Here’s a chance to practice your pitching with real producers who are open to and looking for new work. Okay, they probably won’t option you on the spot, but you’ll meet them and have the opportunity to start developing a relationship. And that’s what this business is all about. Relationships. We’ll have eleven producers lined up, from both the commercial and not-for-profit worlds, all with an interest in new projects; we also may have eleven aspiring producers from our Producer Development program. So you’ll be pitching to as many as 22 producers in total! ABOUT SPEED DATING. How does it work? 11 writers will arrive at 5:30, and we have two coaches coming who will coach the writers on their presentations. Then at 6:30, they go into the Pitch Room to meet the producers - one at each of the stations. We ring a bell, writers have two minutes to pitch. We ring a second bell, producers have two minutes to respond and ask questions, or give feedback. Writers bring a packet with a synopsis, bio, cast breakdown and production requirements to leave with each of the producers. If the project interests the producer, he may request that you send a full script. Meanwhile, group two is in the Coaching Room getting coached for an hour starting at 6:30. Second group goes into the Pitch Room at 7:30. We estimate that pitches and turnaround should take about 50 minutes total for all eleven. We will have wine and cheese afterwards, so although the pitch sessions will end at around 8:20, we hope writers and producers will stay and chat informally until 9pm or so. Yikes! Eleven writers pitching to eleven producers at one time? Think of it as the “cocktail party” pitch where you have to hold someone’s interest with dozens of conversations going on around you. A little chaotic perhaps, but true to life. WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: A one-page (maximum) synopsis, a one-page writer/theater resume or bio, production history (including reviews), set and cast breakdown. You will need 22 sets, one for each of the producers. Make them nice - it’s part of that all-important first impression. NOT EVERYONE WILL BE ACCEPTED. We will judge your application based on the viability of the project, your experience as a writer, prior development of the project and the specific interests of the participating producers. If accepted into the program, the cost is $65 for TRU members and $75 for non-members (and yes, you can always join as a member to qualify for the discount - we’d like that). You may find the application at http://www.truonline.org/WriterSDInfo.htm. Email application to TRUnltd@aol.com. Evening is limited to 22 writers. Deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 18th.