Every week it is required to present updates on our Live Brief project to the lecturers on the animation course. This week also included our pitch presentations for a short film (in which we would only make a pre-production bible for). After reflecting on these presentations, I thought it would be a good time to say my opinion on what to do and not do during a presentation.
What To Do
Have a Good Attitude
Presenting yourself as someone with a positive attitude will make you more likeable, would you believe it! People want to work with someone who is approachable so they can feel safe putting their input into the project. You can be very passionate and energetic, or calm and comforting when talking about your project, because either will show how capable you are when sharing your opinions and taking other's opinions.
Have Complete Faith in Your Idea
We've all had that one idea we know we didn't do enough work for and therefore it became awful. But you'll never know how other people would react to it. Maybe you're being hard on yourself and your work really is good enough for everybody else. So have that little bit of confidence in selling your work, and if you don't, better luck next time! You can improve and get another chance.
Know Your Project Inside Out
Be prepared for the audience to ask questions. Questions are good, as it shows they want to know more about your project. But questions are only useful when you have answers. Know your story, characters, art style and everything else inside out. If you don't, it's another way of coming across as having no faith in your idea.
Be Physical
By this I mean use hand gestures and walk around the stage a little. You're so excited about your idea you can't stand still! Obviously don't go crazy in your movements, but simple hand gestures will make you come across as a more confident leader than you think you are. Do not stand there like a lemon, you will come across as unenthusiastic. And if you're not, why should the audience be?
What NOT To Do
Refuse to Present
Especially if you do have something to show. It doesn't matter how bad your work looks to you, why would you not bother presenting it? You've spent a lot of time on this project, so present it no matter what! Something is ALWAYS better than nothing. And when you're suddenly forced to show you're work anyway (which will happen unless somebody else steps in), you're going to feel unprofessional and embarrassed throughout your pitch.
Be Awkward
Don't outright say you don't like your idea but you're going to present it anyway. That makes the situation way more uncomfortable than it should be. You may think you sound funny by contradicting yourself, but it's really not. Going back to having faith in your idea, express confidence not matter what. If there's a problem with the project then be honest with everyone and say how you are going to fix.
Make the Idea Complicated
A feature film or a long-running series are the only things that are allowed to be complicated, since they have time to explain the story and the characters. Anything else like a short film shouldn't be so complicated. How are your going to fit so much story into such little time? In these situations, the simpler the better. We take for granted simple stories and quiet moments in film since the most popular Hollywood movies are big and loud, and thus there are many people want to make films like that. Be refreshing and go with something simple in order to grab the audience's attention. You'll have plenty of time to try more complicated projects later.
Talk Back to the Judges or the Audience
Some of these 'don't' reasons can be a little forgiving as they come from people who have anxiety or have no confidence in their work, two problems that many people face and must take time to work on. For this reason though, there is no excuse. If a judge or audience doesn't like your idea, don't whine or talk back to them. Listen to their opinions and see if their ideas can make your idea better. If they got a bit of information wrong, calmly explain to them what they actually mean. Have a mature attitude and answer as many questions as you can. DO NOT call them names or state that they're not 'smart enough' to understand, you're not the Rick and Morty fanbase. The only time you should talk back is when somebody is refusing your idea for reasons that have nothing to do with the project, like prejudice against your race, gender or sexuality.
Be a Spoilt Brat When Your Project Isn't Greenlit
Just like with the previous reason, there's no excuse for this. You're an adult now in the working or higher education world. If you whine, throw a tantrum or try to sabotage other projects to show that yours was alway the better one, is this the right career choice for you? Are you even ready to start a career? Again, the only time you should stand up for your idea is when it was turned down for reasons that have nothing to do with the project. For example, many women working in film get their ideas turned down after they refuse to go on a date with the 'man in charge'. Harassment like this happens a lot and it should NOT be a norm in creative industry. However, if your idea was turned down purely because it wasn't good enough, then grow up and improve it. You'll get another chance to pitch (at least you will if you don't get a bad reputation).
