[Career Writer Program] Step 3: Portfolio Polishing

SCHEDULE:

Sun 10/4 @ 2:00pm - 5:00pm PT | Orientation & Elevator Pitch Prep
Hosted by Alex Davies | Director of Education, Roadmap Writers

Thurs 10/8 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm PT | Elevator Pitch Roundtable #1
Hosted by Mark Saffian | Co-Founder, The Content House

Sun 10/11 @ 2:00pm - 4:00pm PT | Matchmaker #1
Hosted by Daniel Clark | Manager, WSA Entertainment

Sun 10/18 @ 2:00pm - 4:00pm PT | 30 Minute Generals
Hosted by Davina Hefflin | Agent, Gersh

Thurs 10/22 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm PT | Elevator Pitch Roundtable #2
Hosted by Val McLeroy | Manager/Producer, Epigram

Sun 10/25 @ 2:00pm - 4:00pm PT | Matchmaker #2
Hosted by Daniel Clark | Manager, WSA Entertainment

+ Sunday Webinars and Opening Pages Analysis!

THIS MONTH YOU WILL...

Learn a formula to structure your elevator pitch.

Polish your sample until it shines.

Practice with professionals who can help you identify where your pitch and sample are weakest - and strongest.

And gain confidence for building your career!

The Portfolio Polishing Program is Step 3 of the Career Writer Program. It is strongly recommended that writers complete Step 1: Pitch Prep Program and Step 2: Marketing Intensive prior to diving in. Writers must complete Steps 1-4 to be considered for our Top Tier Program.

STEP 3: PORTFOLIO POLISHING

The third step in our Career Writer Program is the Portfolio Polishing Program, where writers hone their pages, craft and perfect their elevator pitch, and get prepared to kill it in longer form meetings!

What they say is true: you only get one chance at a first impression. Whether that's with your pages, with a quick elevator pitch, or how you handle yourself during a general meeting, writers need to make sure these skills are sharp and ready to go.

Train with the Roadmap Team and working industry executives to put the finishing touches on your portfolio, pitching, and meeting skills so you make an excellent first impression when it comes time to market!

Walk away with:

an effective 3-minute elevator pitch
a polished, market-ready sample
the skills and confidence to kill any general meeting!

SESSION FORMATS

Elevator Pitch Roundtables: You'll take turns delivering your elevator pitch in a Roundtable setting and receive feedback from the exec on strengths and areas of improvement specific to your elevator pitch. Then, you'll get a chance to do your pitch a second time and incorporate the exec's notes. Learn from notes on your own pitch and from notes given to your peers!

Matchmaker: The exec will read your full script and give you feedback on what's working and what can be improved. Then, you'll revise your script and submit it again for a second set of notes with the same exec.

30-Minute General Meeting: Each writer will take the skills they learned so far and apply them to a full private 30-Minute Mock General Meeting with a working industry executive who takes meetings with writers for a living. Can you own the room? You only need to be available for your 30 minutes as these are private meetings and each writer will receive written feedback from the executive on that general meeting.

What Writers Are Saying...

"The Pitch Prep Program helped me see that there was an actual formula I could follow when pitching, and Dorian's feedback and support gave me the confidence to crush it when pitching. The opportunities to pitch in front of executives is invaluable, and I felt a huge improvement in my skills and confidence from the beginning of the program to the end."

- Monica Trausch, Screenwriter | Now in Top Tier!
"It's so easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to pitching, I know I did. But enrolling in the Roadmap Pitch Prep Program was invaluable. Not only did I learn how to pitch verbally, but what a written two-page pitch should look like and what executives want to read and hear in those precious short moments you have their attention. The biggest takeaway for me, however, was the boost to my confidence. Armed with all the knowledge and given the opportunity to practice, I don't feel like such a sweaty bumbling mess when I pitch, I even look forward to it!"

- Jaquie Brown, Screenwriter | Now signed to CAA!
"The Pitch Prep Program specifically helped me get my loglines and my written pitches in incredible shape. Dorian has the unique ability to ferret out even a single word that might be working against your pitch. Her suggestions, observations, and advice were truly excellent. I feel like I can 'go into battle' armed with pitches that have been honed by a professional. I absolutely recommend it."

- David Hal Chester, Screenwriter | DREAM KILLER (2019), FATAL FASHION (Netflix)
"The Pitch Prep Program is an excellent way to jump into the deep end, knowing that the lifeguards of Roadmap won’t let you drown. The Roadmap staff is extremely encouraging, the industry contacts are bona fide and real world in their feedback, and the participants are definitely a cut above. Well worth doing if you are seriously committed to upping your game and unlocking the magic of your work for those who don’t yet know it."

- Jerry Perez, Screenwriter
"I want to specifically recommend the Pitch Prep Program. It gave me the tools I needed to really stand out in the Intensive, not to mention how useful those tools are in real-life situations where I’ve had the opportunity to pitch. With so many possible paths to success, I really appreciate having the structure and expertise Roadmap Writers offers, and it really does feel like their team is in my corner."

- Monique Madrid, Screenwriter | Winner of Nov 2018 Diversity Initiative
"This month at Roadmap took me to a new level. I have to say that Dorian is a master wordsmith and that everyone should participate in the entire session for the Written Pitch Clinic. She helped me solve issues with my pitch that I couldn't even see from the inside."

- Corey May, Screenwriter | Currently in Step 3: Water Bottle Tour
"BIG SHOUT OUT to the Roadmap Team for the Pitch Prep Program - worth every penny, appreciate all the time given to me! This program truly gave me the tools to grow in confidence & skills to make my pitches shine. Now I find myself actually excited to pitch my projects thanks to this program and the mighty fine folks at Roadmap."

- Scott Carroll, Screenwriter
"What a fantastic class! Dorian is an extremely knowledgeable and engaging lecturer. This was a great start to what I know will be a valuable month."

- Gita Vatave, Screenwriter