Crafting a compelling pitch deck is a vital step in getting your project greenlit. While there's a basic structure you should follow (which we'll discuss below), the real challenge is making your pitch deck truly stand out.
Whether you're pitching to investors, producers, or networks, these film pitch deck examples show that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is creating a pitch deck that represents your film or series in the most authentic way possible.
The purpose of a pitch deck is to sell your film, series, or any other project you're pitching. It's a PDF version of a trailer that highlights the key elements of your project - the story, the style, and the marketing strategy. So let's look at some pitch deck examples to see what makes them effective and inspiring.
It's a good idea to build out the basic structure of your deck first so you don't miss any essential details, and then go back and add your specific selling features later to help market your project specifically. We recommend keeping your pitch deck under 30 pages (and 20 or fewer is even better).
Here are the main sections you should include in every film pitch deck:
While preparing your deck, make sure to take into account who you are pitching to, i.e. understand what your reader cares about. For example, if you are applying for a grant, make sure to include a Director's Statement and highlight the project's themes. Alternatively, if you're sending your pitch deck to a producer, then focus on the commercial viability and include sections on the target audience and project budget.
With the basic structure set, think about the unique aspects of your project that you want to emphasize. For example, if it's a fantasy set in an imaginative world, be sure to bring that world to life through your description. Or if it has a distinct visual style, dedicate a section to showcasing your artistic references. Highlighting these distinctive elements will help make your project stand out.
A pitch deck is part plan, part moodboard, so you can get creative with the story elements. Don't be afraid to think outside the box - for example, you could include a link to a music playlist or design a map of the kingdom. However, take the time to honestly consider whether these elements will actually contribute to your pitch or if they'll simply clutter your deck and distract your reader.
When designing your cover page, study movie posters in the same genre. You'll notice common colour schemes, e.g. thrillers often use blue tones, comedies and indie films favour yellow, and action movies tend to stick to high-contrast black and white.
Breaking up your text across multiple pages allows you to incorporate more visuals into your pitch deck. After all, as the saying goes, an image is worth a thousand words. In this case, it's better to have a 20-page deck where each page is about 30% text and 70% artwork, rather than a 5-page deck that's solid text from top to bottom.
Keep in mind your reader is likely a busy person, so get straight to the point. But that doesn't mean it should be boring either. But that doesn't mean it has to be dry or boring. Infuse your writing with some style and personality to make it fun and engaging to read. It'll be obvious if ChatGPT wrote it. And when editing your work, read through your pitch deck out loud to identify any dull or rambling sections that need tightening up.
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The example from the hit Netflix sci-fi/drama series Stranger Things (originally called Montauk) is more like a detailed show bible than a typical pitch deck. The difference is that a show bible usually includes more text to help the reader better understand the show and its direction. In contrast, a pitch deck tends to focus more on visuals, which is why this Stranger Things "bible" is worth studying.
What it does well: The visuals land perfectly and immediately establish the tone of the series. Designed to look like a worn paperback, this document nails the nostalgic 80s and eerie vibe of the show before you've even started reading. To further reinforce this, the creators have included still images from classic sci-fi movies, showcasing the visual style they aim to achieve. The meticulous attention to detail, such as making all the images look crinkled and aged, goes a long way in fully transporting the reader into the world of the show.
Adventure Time is a popular animated series on Cartoon Network created by Pendleton Ward. Like the Stranger Things example, the details in this document more resemble a show bible than pitch deck, but it does another excellent job of conveying the essence of this animated series. It's bright and silly and fun. You can't help but smile while flipping through the pages.
What it does well: This show bible nails the playful language throughout the entire deck which ties perfectly with the imaginative world this story is set in. Whether the bible is describing the characters - "Finn is a furious little booger when it comes to opposing evil", or the settings - "Like some cosmic grandmama wove a patchwork continent together", the narrative is seamless from beginning to end. This document demonstrates its wild creativity with fun descriptions.
This pitch deck by by graphic designer Aaron Davis, is an excellent example of a dramatic action film pitch. It includes all the necessary elements, from the logline to film comparables, presented in a polished and professional package.
What it does well: This pitch deck maintains consistency from front cover to back. Each page features a thoughtful balance of text and visuals, ensuring no page feels redundant or overwhelming. The variation in colour and font size helps guide the reader's eye and maintain their interest as they browse the content. Overall, the deck has been meticulously designed to provide the reader with all the necessary information in a clear and engaging way.
This feature film example designed by Vicious & Co is another action/thriller, and it's interesting to see they have gone for the same dramatic colour palette as Tiger Sea, with bold red text contrasting against the cold blues tones used for the snowy backdrop.
What it does well: Thanks to the visual design, you don't need the title to immediately recognise where this film takes place. The creators have clearly put in alot of effort to find high-quality images that create a compelling visual story throughout the pitch deck. The use of full-page character images is also captivating and makes every page feel like a cinematic shot taken straight from the movie itself rather than a bunch of random stock images pulled together.
We hope these TV and film pitch deck examples have given you both inspiration and practical insights for crafting your own. Creating a compelling pitch deck takes time and effort, but as these examples show, the results are well worth it. A great deck should instantly convey the essence of your project, its tone, style, and story, without requiring the script. The key is ensuring that your words and visuals work together seamlessly to capture your audience’s imagination from the very first slide.
Ready to get your work out there? Check out our list of international film festivals and find out where to network with film professionals.
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