Top 3 Pitch Cover Letter Mistakes

When you’re pitching a project, whether to us or anyone else, you’ll be sending a cover letter (or providing information) to briefly explain what the project is about. Unfortunately, this is where many newcomers go wrong. There are certain statements that both we and our network executive friends have read from numerous people on multiple occasions – and none of them help the pitch. In most cases, they hurt it. So today we’re going to share the three most prevalent mistakes we see on a regular basis. By not making these mistakes, you’ll give yourself a better shot at success, no matter who you’re pitching to or what kind of project you’re presenting. I Want to Be Anthony Bourdain Quick side note: as you probably know, Anthony Bourdain, an unscripted TV legend, is no longer with us. He helped define our industry, and seemed to be living an amazing life. So much so, in fact, that a huge number of the pitches we receive reference him. It shows how much of a mark he made, and how alluring his life seemed to so many of us. While we didn’t work with him directly, we had many friends and associates who did. We’re all deeply saddened by the loss. What Not to Write in a Cover Letter Today’s podcast episode goes in depth on the top three pitch mistakes we see over and over again in cover letters. We tell you what not to say, but more importantly, what to say instead. Some of what we cover today: * Cover letters come in different forms * Things you should never say in a cover letter * Common mistakes and how to avoid them * How high to “set your bar” * The problem with comparing yourself or your talent to other people * And remembering Anthony Bourdain Press that giant “Play” button at the top of the page, and you’ll be sure to never stick your foot in your mouth when writing your cover letter. Helpful and Related Links Check out our two free ebooks, How to Pitch a Realty Show, and Unscripted Television: 100 Tips for Breaking in and Career Success Let’s Make Some TV Together Are you looking to pitch your own unscripted television project, true crime documentary series or reality TV show? Ready to avoid cover letter mistakes and pitch to us? Here’s what to do next:

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*Named "New and Noteworthy" across all podcasts, as well as TV & Film, Arts, and Education. Subscribe now. Ready to create, pitch, and sell documentary series, unscripted TV shows or reality series and specials? From creating pitch tapes to meeting with TV networks, developing your ideas to discovering reality TV stars, this podcast features tips on working in unscripted film and television that you won't find anywhere else. Get top-industry secrets and even pitch your shows to Award-Winning Documentary Filmmakers and Unscripted Television Producers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina. Recently, the duo have helped both new and experienced producers bring projects to television on MTV, BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL, INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY, A&E, and CNN/HLN. Your show could be next. Subscribe now. ABOUT JOKE AND BIAGIO: With over a decade of experience in unscripted film and television, this married couple has made TV shows, specials, and pilots for CNN, HLN, A&E, The CW, Biography Channel, NBC, CBS, Discovery, Investigation Discovery, Discovery+, E!, IFC, Logo, Oxygen, Style Network, VH1 and MTV. Their feature length documentary DYING TO DO LETTERMAN played in theaters across America, was invited by the International Documentary Association to qualify for Academy Award® consideration, and named “New and Noteworthy” on iTunes alongside The Dark Knight Rises, Brave, and Beasts of the Southern Wild. Subscribers to this podcast will learn the secrets of the Unscripted TV and Film worlds, and how to apply them toward career success. Subscribe today.