What are the key takeaways from this The Pitch episode?

Key insights include: **Idea validation before writing:** Test loglines and premises with coworkers, interns, and industry contacts before spending a year writing a script. Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method recommends vetting audience response early to avoid wasting time on stories that don't resonate with anyone.; **Navigating mentor discouragement:** When pitching underdeveloped ideas, expect discouragement from experienced mentors. Remember the vision in your mind differs from what others hear. Consider feedback carefully but recognize that early-stage pitches often fail to convey the full story potential you envision internally.; **Writer compensation red flags:** When producers request option discussions, immediately clarify compensation structure, who gives notes, and payment for draft revisions. Producers who suddenly back out after these questions likely wanted free development work. Always establish payment terms upfront before beginning any script work.

What did Leah Saint Marie discuss on The Pitch?

Hosts Leah and Angel return for season two after the WGA and SAG strikes, discussing their creative projects, the challenge of getting paid as screenwriters, and strategies for testing story ideas before committing time to development. Key topics include: **Idea validation before writing:** Test loglines and premises with coworkers, interns, and industry contacts before spending a year writing a script. Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method recommends vetting audience response early to avoid wasting time on stories that don't resonate with anyone.; **Navigating mentor discouragement:** When pitching underdeveloped ideas, expect discouragement from experienced mentors. Remember the vision in your mind differs from what others hear. Consider feedback carefully but recognize that early-stage pitches often fail to convey the full story potential you envision internally..

How long is this episode of The Pitch?

This episode is 30 minutes long. SignalCast provides an AI-generated summary so you can get the key insights in about 3 minutes.

The Pitch

#27 - Intro to Season 2

March 28, 2024

30 min episode · 2 min read

Leah Saint Marie

Episode

30 min

Read time

2 min

Topics

Fundraising & VC

AI-Generated Summary

Published Dec 25, 2025

Key Takeaways

✓Idea validation before writing: Test loglines and premises with coworkers, interns, and industry contacts before spending a year writing a script. Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method recommends vetting audience response early to avoid wasting time on stories that don't resonate with anyone.
✓Navigating mentor discouragement: When pitching underdeveloped ideas, expect discouragement from experienced mentors. Remember the vision in your mind differs from what others hear. Consider feedback carefully but recognize that early-stage pitches often fail to convey the full story potential you envision internally.
✓Writer compensation red flags: When producers request option discussions, immediately clarify compensation structure, who gives notes, and payment for draft revisions. Producers who suddenly back out after these questions likely wanted free development work. Always establish payment terms upfront before beginning any script work.
✓Option agreement standards: Typical option deals involve ten percent of the final purchase price, lasting twelve to twenty-four months maximum. Options can range from one dollar between friends to negotiated rates, but writers should never accept extended development periods without compensation for their time and revisions.

What It Covers

Hosts Leah and Angel return for season two after the WGA and SAG strikes, discussing their creative projects, the challenge of getting paid as screenwriters, and strategies for testing story ideas before committing time to development.

Key Questions Answered

•Idea validation before writing: Test loglines and premises with coworkers, interns, and industry contacts before spending a year writing a script. Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method recommends vetting audience response early to avoid wasting time on stories that don't resonate with anyone.
•Navigating mentor discouragement: When pitching underdeveloped ideas, expect discouragement from experienced mentors. Remember the vision in your mind differs from what others hear. Consider feedback carefully but recognize that early-stage pitches often fail to convey the full story potential you envision internally.
•Writer compensation red flags: When producers request option discussions, immediately clarify compensation structure, who gives notes, and payment for draft revisions. Producers who suddenly back out after these questions likely wanted free development work. Always establish payment terms upfront before beginning any script work.
•Option agreement standards: Typical option deals involve ten percent of the final purchase price, lasting twelve to twenty-four months maximum. Options can range from one dollar between friends to negotiated rates, but writers should never accept extended development periods without compensation for their time and revisions.

Notable Moment

A producer expressed interest in optioning Hammond, then abruptly withdrew after the writer asked about compensation structure and who would provide notes, suggesting the producer wanted free development work rather than a legitimate paid option agreement.

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Episode Transcript

Hi. Welcome to season two of Pitch. I'm Leah Saint Marie. And I'm Angel. And today, it's Just Us. Just Us. And we're back from our break after season one. Yeah. So why did we take a break, Angel? Well, it was summer, and all good kids get a summer break. That's true. And we've been especially good. Have we? No cool for me. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you were just Austin getting sick. I I was. I got around. I got sick along with, apparently, a lot of other people. In Austin? Is that right? Austin. A lot of other screenwriters that I follow and follow me on Twitter are like, I got sick. It's not COVID, but I'm sick. Or it is COVID. I'm sick. So I'm one of the lucky 10% that I was talking to the right person at the right time. Gotcha. Well, yeah. So we had a little bit of a break with the summertime. We had some projects we're working on. And since we were just talking about you and Austin Yeah. What were you doing in Austin, and why were you there? So I was in Austin promoting this podcast. If you saw me, you probably, were being shoved a tote bag and or a notebook that had our logo on it, the pitch podcast. We had some good swag. If you weren't there and you didn't get any, you missed out. I'm sorry. I had I had 200 things to hand out. And if I missed you, complain to me on Twitter so that I can feel bad. Yeah. Not because we have more to send out. We're done. Nice. But we will we will acknowledge your presence. I just like to feel bad. Yeah. And if you did get something that I gave you, please post and tag us on Twitter. Yeah. Okay. So you were there promoting the podcast, but why were you there? Oh, my gosh. Yeah. The real the the second part of my question. I've been guilty of this my entire professional career and my personal life, and it's horrible because I have a background as a journalist, but I bury the lead constantly. And the reason that I was at Austin is my Italian script made it into the second round. Hey. Congratulations. That's Thanks. Huge. Thank you. Huge. What's the name of the script again? Teatro delle Moray. Oh, yeah. Teatro. And it needs a new title. So if you also have a new title for my script, tag me on Twitter, and I'm taking all suggestions. The Love Boat. It's not that. That could be a title, though. Oh, that could be the title? Yeah. The Love Boat. I mean, and then people looking for the I would have a very specific audience. There is love and there is a boat. This is true. This is very true. So, yeah, that's what I was I was doing in Austin. It was a lot of …

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Books

Save the CatRecommended
by Blake Snyder
“Blake Snyder's Save the Cat method recommends vetting audience response early to avoid wasting time on stories that don't resonate with anyone.”
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