Pitchcraft – Understanding the Children’s TV industry and how to get started on pitching your idea

Have a great idea for a show but not sure how to pitch it? 

Over the course of two sessions – led by industry consultants Aimée Norman and Janet Balmforth – you will get the low-down what is happening in the children’s (live-action and animation) industry.

Including - current commissioning trends; broadcasters, streamers and other routes to market; understanding the key elements of pitching - from the elevator pitch and sizzle reel to the bible and character development. And finally, presenting techniques to ensure you put your best foot forward in showcasing your idea.  

These sessions are funded by the Animation Skills Fund and the Children’s TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK productions.

Who it's for

This course is for entry and junior level content creators in either live-action or animation who want to learn more about the children’s television industry, routes to market and the how, what and where of pitching an idea.

What it covers

This course will be delivered over two sessions:

Session one – Know the industry

This session will give you an overview of the industry and help you to identify where might be a good fit for your project. It will talk you through the different commissioning strategies and needs of commissioners and how and when to approach as well as other entry points via digital first or partnering with distributors. You will also get an introduction to the elevator pitch, sizzle reel and how to prepare your deck. 

Participants will be expected to complete some prep in their own time before attending session two.

Session two – Pitching basics

This practical session will give you the opportunity to practise your elevator pitch and valuable experience in presenting your information to a group. With realtime feedback, this session will help you to refine your presenting techniques to ensure you are well prepared and on point. 

How to apply

The course will run three times. Please apply for the dates most convenient to your schedule.

Training dates

Course 1:

Session 1: Thursday 23 May – 14:00-14:40
Session 2: Wednesday 5 June – 14:00-14:40

Course 2:

Session 1: Thursday 12 September – 14:00-14:40
Session 2: Wednesday 25 September – 14:00-14:40

Course 3:

Session 1: Thursday 28 November – 14:00-14:40
Session 2: Wednesday 11 December – 14:00-14:40

Please ensure you are able to attend both sessions before applying.

Please click 'apply now' to submit your application. You will need to be logged into your ScreenSkills account to submit your application.