Pitch Writing Lessons from Movie Blockbusters

I love to watch movies and this summer I noticed a lot of highly anticipated films. I find it amazing whenever a “summer blockbuster” not only breaks box office records, but also generates a huge buzz that gets people talking- sometimes months before the movie’s opening!

There are definitely more than a few PR and marketing lessons to be learned from the movies, but when it comes to writing your next media pitch, take special note of these ones:

Timing

Releasing a movie during the summer almost always guarantees more box office sales for that movie than any other time of year. Why? Because people have more free time during the summer to watch movies.

Tie your pitch into what’s happening around you. There are 5 things you should know about the media and one of them is that if you can answer the questions “why you?” and “why now?” you’ll get their attention.

Entertainment Factor

Audiences watch movies in order to be entertained. The media want to tell a story that will not just inform, but entertain their audiences and keep them coming back for more.

Don’t just write a pitch for the journalist or outlet you have in mind. Think about what matters to their audience and tailor your pitch to speak to their audience’s wants and needs first.

The First Ten

A summer blockbuster has to grab you from the first ten minutes or you may quickly lose interest. Likewise, you want to hook a journalist in from the first sentence of your pitch in order to keep them reading.

One of my favorite ways to get inspired to write a pitch is to ask myself: What’s the boldest, most outrageous or provocative statement you’re willing to make? It’s a fun question that will definitely get your creative juices flowing and help you write that compelling hook.

How do movies inspire your pitch writing? Your PR and/or marketing efforts? Share your tips in the comments below or send me a message via Twitter or Facebook.

Photo Credit: Bang It Out

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Elena is founder of a technology PR agency that works with startups to billion-dollar companies. She is passionate about helping marketers and small business owners with practical publicity strategies.

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