Instructions

As part of your preparation for the final Media Dossier & Pitch project, each student will deliver a live presentation of their pitch to the class. This presentation is an opportunity for you to practice and refine your pitch before recording it for the final submission. Your goal is to clearly and persuasively communicate your media project, demonstrating its potential to succeed in a specific non-American market.

Presentation Overview

Duration: 5-7 minutes
Format: Live presentation to the class; slide deck is required (~10 quality slides)
Objective: Practice your pitch, receive feedback, and refine your approach before the final recording

Presentation Instructions

Introduction

Project Overview: Start by briefly introducing your media project. What is it? (TV show, film, podcast, album) Provide a concise synopsis that captures the essence of your project.
Target Audience: Clearly identify the non-American market you are targeting. Explain why you selected this market and what makes it significant.

Main Pitch

Cultural Relevance: Discuss the cultural aspects you’ve incorporated into your project to ensure its success in the target market. Highlight any unique cultural elements that are central to your project.
Global Appeal: Explain how your project could appeal to audiences beyond the target market. What elements of your project have the potential to resonate with a global audience? Consider how your project navigates the complexities of cultural translation and adaptation.
Impact: Discuss the potential cultural impact of your project. How might it be interpreted in different parts of the world? What conversations or shifts in perspective do you hope your project will inspire?

Conclusion

Final Thoughts: Summarize the key points of your pitch. Reinforce why your project is both culturally relevant and globally appealing.
Call to Action: End with a strong closing statement that would encourage media executives to greenlight your project. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression.

Feedback and Reflection

After your presentation, you will receive feedback from both your peers and the instructor. This feedback is intended to help you refine your pitch before recording it for the final submission. Consider the suggestions you receive and think about how you can improve clarity, persuasiveness, and cultural sensitivity in your pitch.

Best Practices for Developing a Presentation

As part of your pitch presentation, you are required to create a slide deck to support your verbal presentation. This slide deck should enhance your storytelling, provide visual context, and help convey your ideas more effectively. Below are some guidelines to help you create an engaging and professional slide deck.

Slide Deck Guidelines

Storytelling and Structure

Opening Slide: Start with a strong, attention-grabbing slide that introduces your project. Include the project title, your name, and a brief tagline or summary that encapsulates the essence of your media project.
Introduction: Use the next slide(s) to introduce the key elements of your project, such as the format (TV show, film, podcast, album), the genre, and the non-American target market. This is your chance to set the stage and provide context for your pitch.
Main Content: Organize the body of your presentation into clear sections that align with your verbal pitch:

Cultural Relevance: Include slides that highlight the cultural aspects of your project. Use visuals (e.g., cultural symbols, relevant imagery) to emphasize how your project connects with the target market.
Global Appeal: Dedicate a few slides to discuss how your project can resonate globally. Use examples of similar successful projects, or visual comparisons, to illustrate how your project might bridge cultural boundaries.
Impact: End the main content with slides that address the potential impact of your project. Consider using data, quotes, or hypothetical scenarios to show the significance of your project.

Conclusion: Wrap up your presentation with a strong closing slide. Reiterate the key points, and finish with a call to action—why should media executives greenlight your project?

Design Best Practices

Keep It Simple: Aim for clean and simple slides. Avoid clutter by limiting text and focusing on key points. Each slide should have one main idea.
Use Visuals Effectively: Incorporate high-quality images, graphics, and charts that support your narrative. Visuals should be relevant and help convey your message without overwhelming the audience.
Consistent Theme: Maintain a consistent color scheme, font choice, and slide layout throughout your presentation. Consistency helps create a polished, professional look.
Readable Text: Use large, readable fonts. Ensure that text contrasts well with the background color so it’s easy to read, even from a distance.
Slide Transitions: Keep slide transitions simple. Avoid distracting animations or effects that might take away from the content.

Storytelling Techniques

Narrative Flow: Think of your presentation as a story. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Guide your audience through your thought process, building interest and engagement as you go.
Emphasize Key Points: Use your slides to emphasize the most important aspects of your pitch. Highlight key takeaways, cultural insights, or unique selling points to make them memorable.
Engage Your Audience: Ask rhetorical questions, use compelling visuals, or tell a brief anecdote related to your project to keep your audience engaged.

Practice and Timing