Episode 19 - What's The Story?

Episode 19: What's the Story?

Welcome back, this is Denis O’Brien from MakeYourFilm.net, your daily source of wisdom for aspiring producers. Today’s focus is on one of the most critical aspects of filmmaking: the story—and how to effectively communicate it.

What’s the Story?

If you’re making a film—especially one you wrote—ask yourself: What’s the story? Can you sum it up in a logline? If you can nail the logline, you can build from there: a synopsis, a pitch, and ultimately, a compelling package.

A friend of mine joked recently, “You should write the logline before the script.” They’re not wrong—because if you can’t distill your story into one sharp sentence, it might not be ready yet.

Mastering Your Pitches

Here’s how to break it down:

The Logline

One or two sentences that capture the essence of your film. This is your foundation.
Make it tight and impactful—every word matters.
The Elevator Pitch - A 2-3 minute version of your story. Imagine you’re in an elevator with a producer or investor—you need to get them hooked before the doors open.
The Full Room Pitch - A longer, 10-15 minute version. This is for presentations or meetings where you have the floor. Use this time to build on the logline and elevator pitch, diving into the characters, themes, and unique selling points of your film.
A Producer’s Journey

When you’re standing up a film, it’s like running for office. You’re constantly pitching—tailoring your language to the audience in front of you. Every meeting, every pitch, is different, but this is part of the journey.

Relax. You can do this.