Pitch Conference: Mastering the Art of Pitching & Live Pitches
Pitching is a delicate balance of creativity, precision and persuasion. A standout pitch can get a bad film made, while a weak pitch might mean that a stellar project never sees the light of day. In this panel, AFM attendees will uncover the key principles and strategies for effective pitching from seasoned financiers, producers and development executives. Selected filmmakers will then present their pitches live and be critiqued by our panel who will share candid and constructive feedback on what worked and areas for improvement.
To qualify and be considered to pitch our experts live, you must be registered for AFM with a Platinum or Plus Badge and submit a 2-minute video pitch. For full submission details, consult the AFM 2024 Pitch Guide. Pitch submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Moderator
Lee Jessup, leejessup.com
Panelists
Lorelle Lynch, AGC Studios
Cassian Elwes, Elevated Film
Speakers
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Lee JessupScreenwriting Career Consultant & Coach, leejessup.comLee Jessup is an Adjunct Screenwriting Professor and career coach for screenwriters, specializing in guiding emerging and professional scribes toward long-standing and prolific screenwriting careers in both TV and feature writing. Lee has provided consulting services to NBC International, the Universal Writers Program, the Final Draft Big Break Contest and Inevitable Foundation, and is an adjunct professor focusing on the Business of Screenwriting with the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts. Her one-on-one coaching clients include everyone from showrunners and studio writers to contest winners, TV writing fellows as well as writers just starting out. She is the author of the best-selling books Breaking In: Tales From the Screenwriting Trenches and Getting It Write: An Insider’s Guide to a Screenwriting Career. Never far from the industry, Lee resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two kids and two rescue dogs.
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Cassian ElwesProducer & Agent, Elevated Film SalesCassian Elwes is an expert in producing, arranging financing and finding distribution for independent films. He began his producing career with 1984’s “Oxford Blues” starring Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy and quickly went on to make another 29 films, including “Men At Work,” with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and “The Chase,” again with Sheen.
In 1994, Elwes joined William Morris and headed William Morris Independent Film for 15 years. He arranged financing for indie hits such as “Slingblade” and “The Apostle,” both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. “Monster’s Ball” was their historic follow up as Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. In the end he had arranged financing and distribution for 283 films during his tenure at William Morris.
Since leaving William Morris 10 years ago, Elwes has either produced or executive produced more than 70 films such as David Lowery’s “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”, which was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature, Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine” starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, for which Williams was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, and the hit period drama “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” which featured an all-star cast headed by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.
He also executive produced J.C. Chandor’s “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford and executive produced and arranged financing for the Academy Award winning hit “Dallas Buyers Club” directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner.
Most recently, Elwes produced both the multiple Academy Award nominated “Mudbound”, directed by Dee Rees, which Netflix distributed, and Dee Rees’ latest film, “The Last Thing He Wanted,” starring Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck and Willem Dafoe, which Netflix will distribute. “Dreamland,” starring Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly, and “Best Sellers,” starring Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza, are in currently in post-production.
