Source: 2theadvocate.com
Future Trey Parkers and Matt Stones will have a chance to present their ideas for an animated television series or a feature film to a panel of studio decision-makers during the fifth annual Red Stick International Animation Festival, April 22-25.
Last year, the festival, which the LSU Center for Computation & Technology sponsors in partnership with the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President’s Office, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Louisiana Economic Development, and the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism developed a Pitch! Contest and workshop track for potential animators. Based on the success of last year’s event, the Pitch! Contest returns in 2009.
“Red Stick had many talented entries in our first Pitch! Contest, and we are excited to offer a new group of potential producers and writers a chance to put their ideas in front of industry experts, talk their ideas over with the professionals to further develop them and, who knows, maybe make a deal to produce their show,” Red Stick International Animation Festival Director Stacey Simmons said. “We are changing the admissions process slightly to allow more people the opportunity to participate, and we can’t wait to see the ideas submitted for this year’s contest.”
Red Stick will choose 30 teams to participate in the Pitch! Workshop, which involves a series of lectures and breakout groups culminating in the actual pitch to a panel of acquisitions executives from major animation studios. All Pitch! events will take place during the Red Stick International Animation Festival.
The first day, Wednesday, April 22, participants will watch experienced producers promote their shows to buyers and learn from their examples. Additional workshops for Pitch! Contest participants will focus on Pitch! bible creation, writing, character development, television business principles and co-production opportunities.
During the workshop track, all pitchers will get to meet with at least two executives from major North American and global animation companies. At the end of the workshops, the executives select the top five finalists, who will get to pitch their ideas for an animated TV series or feature film to the acquisitions panel on Saturday, April 25, in the Manship Theatre. This panel has the authority to offer a development contract on the spot if they hear an idea that interests them.
The Pitch! Contest is open to anyone who wants to participate, and no prior animation or scriptwriting experience is required. To enter the 2009 Pitch! Contest, participants must provide a complete Pitch! bible, which should include:
- Character descriptions
- Show summary
- Episode Guide (television idea)
- Treatment/Synopsis (feature film idea)
- A resume' of all the key personnel
- Production Plan: How will you produce your show? Do you have a production partner? Do you have experience producing a show for television?
- A letter about why you should get to meet with the executives
Pitch! bibles and application kits are due by Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 5 p.m. CST. The festival will notify participants whether they have been selected for the Pitch! Contest by the following week. Send materials to: Red Stick Pitch! Contest, 216 Johnston Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803.
Pitch! Contest participants must purchase a festival Gold Pass for $50 to participate, but there is no additional workshop fee for the Pitch! Workshop sessions that precede the contest.
In addition to the Pitch! Contest, other Red Stick activities will take place at the Shaw Center for the Arts, the Manship Theatre, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum or LASM, and the Old State Capitol. Red Stick offers free animation screenings for families, and this year, the festival features a record-breaking selection of original animated screenings from its Best of the Fest competition.
For more information about the Pitch! Contest or other Red Stick events, please visit www.redstickfestival.org or contact the festival office at 225-389-7182.
Publish Date:
03-19-2009
