<p>Ok so I am here in LA at a “pitch fest” where hundreds of aspiring screenwriters (like me) are pitching their ideas to agents, management companies, and production companies. </p>
<p>There are so many similarities between this endeavor and what our kids go through – I had to pay for each pitch – which means I had to look at each company’s profile and determine if there was a match or not. I figure any company that’s made a film I’ve heard of is a “reach”, whereas any company that hasn’t produced anything is more of a match. And even though I’ve worked long and hard on my screenplay, it gets reduced to the success (or failure) of a 5 minute pitch (just like with our kids’ essays). And there is constantly changing information that makes you revise your plan – one company doesn’t show; another is there but they want thrillers and you brought a comedy – so you have to constantly adapt your plan.</p>
<p>There are times during this event when I just wanted to go home, or have someone make it easier for me, but I stuck it out, and I learned something from the process. Because you have to feed your dreams. At least I tried. And at the end, some people said “great pitch!” </p>
<p>Anyone have their own experience where they feel like they’re trying to get into the school of their choice? In a way, I hope not – I’m too old for this.</p>