Before you get the deal and the big bucks, you have to sell your stuff and yourself.

Pitch Bible or Pitch Book:
A compilation of premise, story, characters, images in a form that can be presented during a pitch, as well as left behind with the prospect.

Premise:
A written foundation that explores the establishment, conflict and resolution of the story. The premise helps to support the story and the characters for the writer.

Script Treatment:
A treatment covers the full story, its basic ideas, and production issues in a condensed form, containing key scenes, locations, main characters and plot.

Story Springboards:
See “episode synopsis;” One-paragraph descriptions of episodes plots that spring from the original concept. Each episode’s synopsis should contain a beginning, middle and end.

Story Treatment:
A compelling narrative about the story in a page or two for television, longer for features; is used to sell the story.

Synopsis:
A one-paragraph overview of the story, plot and motivation of the characters.

Teaser:
Produced animation, either a sequence or animatic, which best illustrates the main characters, their actions and the premise.

Trailer:
A produced synopsis of the animated story, which helps to sell the concept.

Building A Pitch Bible
You as the creator will determine the look, feel and weight of your pitch, but there are a few essentials that you want to be sure to include in your pitch materials.

First and foremost, when developing your pitch package, make sure that it functions well in a presentation. Know where in the book you want key images of characters, environments and key art that you can use in presenting. Make sure that it is easy to follow in a book form, as well as usable in the sales pitch. Some creators like to bring in separate presentation boards of the art for the pitch only, with the pitch book as the leave-behind.

The pitch book is the document that is left with the interested party for their referral. It is your sales tool when you are not there. Keep it brief and to the point.

Be sure to have a log line, premise or synopsis included in the front of your pitch for easy reference. Include a story treatment, which gives a more in depth perspective of the concept.

Unlike any other pitch in entertainment, images in animation are the “heart” and soul of the story. The pitch book should reflect the artistic design of the project. Some creators use a visual theme throughout their pitch bibles to reinforce the concept. Visual consistency is a way to insure the property is remembered. Developing a logo for your project is an effective way of tying all the pieces together.

Main characters should be displayed in action poses and with attitudes. These are the actors you “hired” for the story. Images of the environment help to establish the story’s world. Great key art, in which the characters are in action, per their description, within the key environment, further support the concept.

Episodic synopses are essential for every television pitch. Episodes will show that the story and characters sustains in other situations and circumstances. Be sure that the episode synopses are short with a beginning, middle and end of the story.