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TEN MINUTES TO THE PITCH
How to present the best pitch possible! Here's a usable, workable guide to selling your script, story or idea to the 'powers that be.' The Guidelines prepare writers, directors and other creatives to go into the Inner Sanctum and sell their fabulous ideas. Compact and Comprehensive, TEN MINUTES is meant to be read once, twice, three times, to help you .Then, when it's time to perform, the Ready-Set-Go Checklist settles you down, gets you focused and puts you in position to knock 'em dead. Insider advice and last minute reminders from a writer-producer who has successfully pitched..and been pitched to...thousands of times!
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 20, 2025
Selling yourself and your ideas in any industry can mean the difference between getting the deal or being rejected. And while the former is always the desired outcome, it is the time and effort you put into preparing yourself that can make all the difference.
In Hollywood, being able to succinctly and professionally pitch your film or TV idea can have a significant impact on how higher-ups perceive you in a highly competitive industry. In her valuable book, Ten Minutes to the Pitch, Chris Abbott breaks down the pitching process into manageable chunks to help writers excel once they have the opportunity to share their ideas with those who have the power to say yes.
Ten Minutes to the Pitch is not a book that instructs you how to craft your pitch; it gives you the tools you need to make sure your time pitching is as successful as possible. Abbott presents “15 Do’s and Don’ts to go over when there are literally ‘Ten Minutes to the Pitch.’ The checklist contains not only proven, practical pitching advice, but also, in some cases, a Zen way of looking at any aspect of your writing career” (15). The advice provided may sound obvious at first, but Abbott shows how and why these elements can make a huge difference in how your pitch presentation and how you present yourself in the room.
The book is divided into four sections: Section 1: The Checklist provides a brief overview of the 15 Do’s and Don’ts; Section 2: The Details, “which is a more specific and detailed exploration of the checklist;” Section 3: The Marketplace discusses ways to research industry trends and what might be the next big thing Hollywood is looking for; and Section 4: The Days (and Weeks) Before provides resources you can use to deepen your knowledge of the entertainment industry (16).
Along the way, Abbott shares anecdotes from her colleagues about their successes and failures pitching ideas, along with straightforward advice on the realities of working in the entertainment industry.
Ten Minutes to the Pitch is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to pitch their ideas in Hollywood. It’s also an excellent book for anyone looking for ways to sharpen their sales skills in any other business.
I recommend Ten Minutes to the Pitch by Chris Abbott!
In Hollywood, being able to succinctly and professionally pitch your film or TV idea can have a significant impact on how higher-ups perceive you in a highly competitive industry. In her valuable book, Ten Minutes to the Pitch, Chris Abbott breaks down the pitching process into manageable chunks to help writers excel once they have the opportunity to share their ideas with those who have the power to say yes.
Ten Minutes to the Pitch is not a book that instructs you how to craft your pitch; it gives you the tools you need to make sure your time pitching is as successful as possible. Abbott presents “15 Do’s and Don’ts to go over when there are literally ‘Ten Minutes to the Pitch.’ The checklist contains not only proven, practical pitching advice, but also, in some cases, a Zen way of looking at any aspect of your writing career” (15). The advice provided may sound obvious at first, but Abbott shows how and why these elements can make a huge difference in how your pitch presentation and how you present yourself in the room.
The book is divided into four sections: Section 1: The Checklist provides a brief overview of the 15 Do’s and Don’ts; Section 2: The Details, “which is a more specific and detailed exploration of the checklist;” Section 3: The Marketplace discusses ways to research industry trends and what might be the next big thing Hollywood is looking for; and Section 4: The Days (and Weeks) Before provides resources you can use to deepen your knowledge of the entertainment industry (16).
Along the way, Abbott shares anecdotes from her colleagues about their successes and failures pitching ideas, along with straightforward advice on the realities of working in the entertainment industry.
Ten Minutes to the Pitch is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to pitch their ideas in Hollywood. It’s also an excellent book for anyone looking for ways to sharpen their sales skills in any other business.
I recommend Ten Minutes to the Pitch by Chris Abbott!
March 29, 2016
Concise and practical. No more, no less.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews