The Department of Cinema & Television Arts,
the Entertainment Industry Institute
and the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication
at California State University Northridge
and
The California State University Entertainment Alliance

present

HERE’S THE PITCH!
A TV Pitch Competition & Series Development Workshop

Meet our Judging Panel and Mentors

Modeled after the popular NBC competition, The Voice, the event will take place in three separate judging/coaching rounds as students workshop projects, enjoy panel discussions and pitch to several tiers of industry professionals over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year.

THE FORMAT

• Part 1: In a two-hour Zoom workshop on Dec. 1 from 6-8 p.m. PST, students will learn to create the 5-minute oral pitch with accompanying pitch deck and sizzle. Participants will engage with industry professionals while honing their pitching skills sets. They subsequently will enter their original series in creative development for the competition and will submit recorded, five-minute pitches by December 29. The workshop facilitators will select up to 20 semi-finalists to advance to Part 2. The semi-finalists will be notified on Jan. 19.
• Part 2: On Feb 1, a panel of 10 mentor/judges, all industry professionals, will review the semi-finalists’ five-minute recorded pitches and will announce 10 Finalists. Each finalist will be paired with a mentor. Over the next three months, the mentors will coach the finalists in the honing of their series ideas and pitches.
• Part 3: On May 4 from 6-8 p.m. PST, in a two-hour Zoom event, five industry heavy hitters will present a 50-minute panel discussion on television series pitching and development. The 10 finalists will then engage in a 50-minute, live Zoom pitch-fest competition; the round-three judges will choose and announce two runners up and one winner.

THE EVENT

Perhaps the most frustrating element of developing a student project is finding someone to read it—and for the novice that almost always begins with a compelling oral pitch. While some students have a natural talent for pitching, all too often they find themselves front and center in the professional world, only to discover their pitching skills sets are not yet at a professional level.

Here's the Pitch!, a three-tiered pitch-fest competition and TV development workshop, provides a real-life dress rehearsal in the form of three very rare opportunities for students to interact with a bevy of seasoned veterans, show creators, working writers and producers.

As they advance through the rounds, the semi-finalists, the finalists and the winners will not only learn how to pitch, but also will practice and refine their presentations, gaining confidence and skills throughout the process, all thanks to the good will successful professionals extend to beginners.

Moreover, regardless of their ultimate standing in the competition, all registrants will benefit from the discussion panels composed of seasoned professionals.