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Story for
Pitch Decks

The training

You’ve got a great idea and a script you think industry producers and execs should read. But how do you convince them?

  • Location: Online
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Sessions: 2

Take your pitching to the next level and add pitch-deck creation to your skillset with this live professional development training.

Our tutors pitch their own scripts and factual ideas day-in day-out and will guide you through the process. You’ll walk away with a template you can tweak to fit all your ideas, no matter what genre or format. Plus the reassurance that producers and commissioners will see your vision in the way you do.

This practical training is designed in mind for anyone with a script or factual/documentary idea looking to deliver a memorable, professional industry pitch for their story. It’s taught live and online to UK time, but everything’s embedded and archived in our online classroom – so you can join us from anywhere.

ScreenSkills bursaries

You may be eligible for a ScreenSkills training bursary for this course.

View ScreenSkills' bursary page

Our team

Meet the experts

Emma Millions

Emma Millions

Course Director

Emma has been a development producer for multiple broadcasters and independent production companies alongside writing for the likes of Ant & Dec, The Chuckle Brothers and the director Ken Russell. She teaches screenwriting at several film schools and is passionate about finding the perfect format for every individual story.

More about Emma

John Yorke

Course Consultant

John is widely acknowledged as the UK’s foremost expert on story and Into the Woods is the bestselling book on the subject in the UK. John’s worked on some of the world’s most lucrative, widely viewed and critically acclaimed TV drama, from EastEnders to Shameless, Life on Mars and Wolf Hall.

More about John
Chay Collins

Chay Collins

Course Moderator

Chay is a London-based freelance writer and creator. They hold a BA in Film & Television specialising in screenwriting and gender & sexuality. As well as running writing events they have had essays published in anthologies and their debut novella nominated for an award.

More about Chay

Things to know

Story for Pitch Decks is for anyone who has to pitch ideas, including screenwriters, documentary makers, and those working in development for film or TV.

The workshop is suitable if you:

  • Want to craft a compelling pitch that prompts industry insiders to ask to see your work
  • Have found it tough to get responses from enquiry emails
  • Know you need to learn to make visual decks, but don’t know how
  • Want to discover why your pitches aren’t hitting home – and how to fix them
  • Want to learn the underlying framework behind successful pitches, and how to apply it
  • Have access to and a basic knowledge of Powerpoint, Canva, Keynote, or equivalent presentation software as this cannot be taught during the sessions
  • Can dedicate 2 days to the learning

This professional training allows you to:

  • Perfect your pitching skills and learn how to see your story in a more effective visual way
  • Move forward with a template that can be applied to all your future ideas
  • Refresh your story skills and use the principles of narrative to explain your idea to others
  • Distill your thoughts, and exert greater control over the drama of your pitch
  • Gain greater understanding of industry expectations and processes
  • Practise giving effective feedback and receiving critical notes
  • Network with others in the industry, and with the tutor team and special guests

Zoom Workshop 1 – 10am – 5pm (UK time)

Discover the blueprint pitch-deck structure that works for any story idea, then learn how to build it using PowerPoint or your preferred equivalent (Photoshop, Keynote etc.).

From the ‘must includes’ to the ‘don’t do’s’, we’ll guide you through the process with masses of practical tips and exercises to get you exploring and making alongside a peer group of creatives all looking to develop their skillsets.

After the first workshop, apply the template to your story idea in your own time, with support from your peers.

Zoom Workshop 2 – 10am – 2pm (UK time)

Pitch your deck to your tutor for incisive feedback to hone your words and images – and learn new tips and tricks.

ScreenSkills –You may be eligible for a training bursary for this course. Apply direct to ScreenSkills here, at least four weeks before the course start date.

As this counts as CPD training, you may also be able to get funding from your employer to do it.

Join our alumni – After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

  • Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
  • Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
  • Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
  • Join discussions about screenwriting, script editing and the industry
  • Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk

Mentoring and one-to-one feedback – Our team offer mentoring, script reads and reports. We are happy to quote by job or script, or to arrange a longer mentoring scheme as you work on a specific story idea. We’ll create a package to suit you, so please email [email protected].

How it Works

Our training’s taught 100% online in small groups with a designated tutor and moderator on-hand throughout.

This course is taught live to UK time, but everything’s embedded and archived in our online classroom – so you can join us from anywhere.

It’s an active learning experience where you watch, reflect and practise exercises on Zoom and in our online classroom before submitting assignments for peer and tutor feedback. You’ll then refine your work as you improve.

It’s both flexible and structured. Social and yet gives you space. Find out more about how we teach.

John Yorke Storycon
Our Alumni

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