Pitch Prep Program is Step 1 of the Career Writer Program. Writers must complete Steps 1-4 to be considered for our Top Tier Program. |
STEP 1: PITCH PREP PROGRAM
Hone your written & verbal pitch, mold your brand, and get prepared to properly market your material!
So you're finally getting the hang of this writing thing—it's all starting to come together. But when it comes time to pitch it, your amazing story is not coming through—or worse, you freeze up and have no idea what to say—and you can't figure out why. Roadmap understands your frustration, which is why we've put together a Pitch Prep Program that revolves all around pitching and how to master your pitch!
There are two groups each month. While both groups will have common lectures and other sessions, each group's Workshops and Roundtables (and due dates) will be unique. The coach for Group #1 is Roadmap COO Dorian Connelley while the coach for Group #2 is Roadmap's Director of Access Programs Tristan J Shuler. Use the drop-down above to choose your desired month/group, then go to the Schedule tab to see each program's unique session dates.
Train with the Roadmap Team and working industry executives to refine your pitch and figure out what's breaking down in translation and how to build it up!
Learn step-by-step tools you will use for the duration of your career. Walk away with:
- a polished 2-page written pitch
- a practiced 5-6 min. verbal pitch ready to put to the test
- and a personal brand logline highlighting your unique perspective as a screenwriter
Limited to 9 writers each month so every writer gets optimal attention!
THIS MONTH YOU WILL...
Demystify breaking into the industry as an emerging screenwriter.
Learn a formula to structure your pitch.
Master tone and voice when pitching.
Practice with professionals who can help you identify where your pitch is weakest—and strongest.
And gain confidence for the hot seat!
I cannot get over how effective the lectures (and their content!) were. To see all of us improve SO much over a month—to feel 10 times more confident at the end of the month than I did at the beginning. Everything was purposeful and useful. I'd recommend to anyone!
~ Ashley Glacel, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #253
Even if you have been raised by wolves, Dorian can show you how to get to the heart of your story and then package it professionally like a human writer. Her experienced insight and surgeon-like precision are pretty inspiring to watch in action. We've all become better writers because of her. And her energy and humor make the classes a delight.
~ Cath Gulick, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #195
I'm not sure what I was expecting at Roadmap but I am getting so much more out of it than I thought; it has been illuminating in so many ways. I think as writers we work in a bubble; being able to work in a group like this is so helpful. I also found that refining both the written and verbal pitch has revealed ways I can improve my scripts structurally. Honestly, I LOVE Roadmap!
~ Lucinda Spurling, Screenwriter
What an amazing lesson that I can use forever. Thank you!
~ Mika Frank, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #130
The Pitch Prep Program really worked! My previous written pitches got a big yawn but the latest feedback scores almost all excellent ratings. Thanks.
~ Greg Price, Optioned Screenwriter (Radioactive Pictures)
I was three for three on script requests this past weekend with my exec meetings. I attribute that success to the pitch prep. I really learned a lot during the past couple of months. Thank you so much!
~ McKenzie Hamilton, Screenwriter
I wanted to pass along a thank you to you guys. I had a good pitch today and at the end, the exec asked me to send him a pitch document. Thanks to Dorian’s class in the pitch prep I felt I had a professional document to send and was able to get it right out to him. So, thanks, guys!
~ Marc Leighton, Screenwriter
I have to say Pitch Prep went way beyond my wildest expectations! It was fabulous. The logline, written pitch, and verbal pitch skills I picked up were invaluable. Can't wait to see what's in store in the Marketing Intensive.
~ Laurie Miller, Screenwriter
Dorian answered a question on loglines for me that cut through all the bulls*** and helped me finally rewrite 3 of mine. Those 30 seconds alone were worth the fee for the whole course.
~ Jaime Kawamoto, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #255
I honestly am so grateful for everything I learned during any of my sessions with Roadmap, it definitely opened my eyes to a new side of the business, and it's especially helped with all of my pitches (I still refer to your pitch tips)!
~ Ashlei Hardenburg-Cartagena, Screenwriter (2021-22 Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop Fellow)
I can't believe how much I'm getting out of my journey down the 'road'. Working with Roadmap is the single smartest decision I've made since I started writing.
~ Tom Holowach, Screenwriter
Dorian is a force of nature! It was such a pleasure working with her in the Pitch Prep Program and Marketing Intensive. Our group learned so much; it's clear our confidence is growing every time we pitch—all thanks to Roadmap! We received specific notes, invaluable guidance, and, most importantly, we laughed all along the way.
~ Brenda Lynn Bynum, Screenwriter
If you told me I could create a watertight logline, written pitch AND verbal pitch in just one month WHILE making new friends, I wouldn't believe you. But you can – Dorian and the team are that amazing. It would have taken me months to do it on my own, and I still wouldn't know if it was any good or have anyone to test it out on. If you're on the fence, ask me questions!
~ Kyle Collins, Screenwriter (@kylecollins on Twitter)
Roadmap changed the game for me. The Career Writer Program was instrumental in getting eyeballs on my work. I think every writer should take Dorian's logline workshop in the Pitch Prep Program. Her formula is genius and taught in a way that sticks! I've had 8 different scripts requested in less than two months and that's because my loglines tell a story and have helped me stand out. Thank you for helping me on this road to getting a rep. Now that I'm signed, I'm so excited to really get to work!
~ Jaime Kawamoto, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #255
Just wanted to let you know what's going on with me... I sold a pitch late last year to a MAJOR animation studio and am now co-writing a feature for them!! I honestly couldn't have done it without the Career Writer Program! It got me comfortable in front of execs and helped me craft a super tight pitch. Thank you so much for truly preparing me to shine whenever these opportunities arise.
~ Jaclyn Chan, Diversity Initiative Winner (August 2018)
Before Roadmap. I was feeling extremely lost about how to pursue a professional writing career. Once I joined the Career Writer Program, I acquired more tools and knowledge in the first month than I had in years of trying on my own. I now understand how to talk about my projects and my brand with such ease, which was exactly what I needed to sign with my first literary manager! I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the Career Writer Program—not only do I have skills and confidence I will use throughout my career, but I also have a community of support that I will lean on forever. Worth every penny!
~ Kristina Denton, Roadmap Signed Screenwriter #254
As someone who has sold a few projects, been a finalist at the AFF pitch competition, and actually TAUGHT pitching for a long time, I thought I didn't need to take this first class. Being the arrogant SOB that I am, I thought I needed to go directly to the advanced stuff—I should be in Top Tier. But I decided to just take it for a week or two with the promise that if I didn't think it was for me, we could talk. And I gotta tell you... I learned SO MUCH in those first couple of weeks. I couldn't believe how much more there is beyond what most writers consider a basic pitch. The amount of effort Dorian put into just my stuff (let alone everyone else's) was really quite extraordinary. I was really, truly blown away.
~ Lovinder Gill, Produced Screenwriter, Host of the Scriptcake Podcast, and Author of “Sciptcake Secrets: The Top 10 Mistakes Novice Screenwriters Make and How to Fix Them”
Thank you so much for all of your help on my project—especially on the business, marketing, and pitching side. Who knows what will come from any given meeting, but it’s a good feeling when someone requests the script or asks about additional materials and if I currently have reps. Right now, an A-lister's development producer is reading the script and I’m meeting with a streaming exec tonight. I feel so much better prepared to pitch and take these meetings because of Roadmap.
~ Todd Hunter, Screenwriter
I've wanted to take this program for so long & I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity. Every lecture and roundtable was loaded with so much incredible information. This month built up my confidence so much & energized me for the new year, and that's a great feeling. My coach Tristan was such a knowledgeable & supportive (& hilarious!) guide.
~ Stella Ruggiero, Screenwriter
Pitch Prep with Dorian was challenging, clarifying, and motivating. You quickly learn how to talk about and market your writing, and you also build skills to vet future project ideas. I have not found this type of information in other programs. Highly recommended!
~ Amy Schleunes, Screenwriter
I am obsessed with Roadmap! I just completed the Pitch Prep Program—the information and value are unmatched! I had taken a handful of pitch classes in the past and always left with more questions—until I found Roadmap! The level of detail and instruction Dorian provided us with was incredible. Not to mention, the class is so organized and easy to access. I had been looking for a class like this one that would give me the tools I needed to feel confident out in the world. If you put in the work, it's impossible NOT to be prepared by the end of the month! I am so thankful to Dorian and the entire Roadmap team!
~ Tiffany Chandon, Screenwriter
I've spent so much money on silly services. Obviously, none of them worked. But I've gotten more out of Roadmap in the last month than anything else I've tried in a decade. Even though this class is about the business of screenwriting and not screenwriting itself, somehow I'm learning more about the craft than I have in years. I'd been feeling like my scripts had plateaued; I just didn't know how to make them better. Now, I'm going through all of my scripts and reworking/elevating them.
~ Shaun Crawford, Screenwriter
After registering, your confirmation email will include a link for you to access your syllabus for the program, which will include any prep work & resources, class dates & times, join links, assignments, and other instructions.
All interactive sessions are conducted face-to-face via video conferencing software Zoom. While the ability to call in by phone does exist, we strongly recommend taking full advantage of the face-to-face nature of these programs, so you should plan to attend your sessions in front of a computer or stationary tablet at a desk or table in a well-lit room.
Please ensure you are familiar with our Code of Conduct.
**NOTE: Once you have registered for a particular month of the program, you are able to push your registration to a later month up to 7 days prior to the first session of the month for which you originally registered. Please note that the first session of the program may occur up to 5 days prior to the first day of the originally selected month, so check your syllabus accordingly. Changes requested after the 7 day deadline will not be accommodated.