Vicky Frith - Pitching for Mini Masterpieces

MM 2004 Film Maker

What was your experience of the pitch day?
The pitch day was an interesting experience. In terms of pitching, the day was well organized and moved speedily. Everyone is friendly and helpful and there is a general buzz of healthy competition in the air from the ‘pitchees’.

What tips would you give prospective pitches?
Keep it simple and concise, keep it clear, make your idea understandable in a couple of sentences. If you can’t get your idea across [try it on a stranger], then its not working hard enough.

How can film makers get the most out of mini master pieces?
The pitch process in itself is a great learning experience. So, even if your film isn’t chosen, the benefits of going through the pitch process are numerous – confidence, learning to ‘pitch’, seeing the ‘competition’. Then, if your film is to be made, be structured, be organized, know what you want, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from the MM team. In the real world, sadly, short films don’t get made in a week. MM is rewarding you the funding to make your film, with all professional facilities handed to you – don’t underestimate or waste it, it’s a one off opportunity.

What was it like being at brief encounters?
Brief Encounters is a really well organized film festival, with some fantastic choices of films shown. You get to see a vast amount of films from around the world, knowing that on the last night of the festival your film will be shown on a large screen, and will be judged accordingly. It’s one of the best incentives to make the film you want to make.

What did the experience mean to you?
Meeting other film makers and other people in the business, and how they operate, was part of the MM week which, aside from the obvious [getting a film made], was a very valuable experience.

What are you doing now?
Writing! Still writing lots and lots of short films, and they are getting longer…have written 2 educational dramas for key stage 4 of the national cirriculum, plus various other small script commissions for TV work.