How to Craft a Great Pitch Package for Film & TV

Whether you're writing feature films, TV shows, or narrative series, eventually you face the same challenge: how do you convince someone to believe in your story as much as you do?

That’s where a pitch package comes in.

A pitch package is a visual and textual presentation of your story idea. It’s what you use to grab a producer’s attention, hold their interest, and guide them toward the heart of your concept. When crafted properly, a pitch package can transform a good idea into a project that feels real and investment-worthy.

In this post, we’ll walk through the key elements of a great pitch package, using real examples (including our own deck for UNSEEN, a five-part thriller developed here at Vanish) and show you how to bring your idea to life on the page.

1. Start With a Punch: The Introduction

This section is your first impression. Think of it like a trailer for the idea. Tight, clear, and emotionally charged. Lead with a logline that hooks. Then follow it up with a one-paragraph summary that frames what makes this story powerful.

In UNSEEN, our logline introduced the disappearance of a college student and the emotional fallout between her estranged parents. The hook was built not on spectacle, but on psychological suspense and emotional stakes. Within three sentences, the reader knows what the show is about, who it’s for, and why it matters.

Tip: Use one striking visual on this page that reflects the tone. In UNSEEN, we used a frame from a movie that it's location gave a similar look and feel to a location we wanted to create for the show.

2. The Story Overview: Define the Core

Now that you’ve got their attention, deepen the intrigue. This is where you explain the shape of the story: the genre, the tone, the central themes, and what makes this story different from anything else out there.

For UNSEEN, this meant outlining the narrative duality: a grieving family on the outside, a survivor fighting to escape from the inside. This contrast wasn’t just dramatic, it showed how the storytelling would be structured across episodes and character arcs.

Think of this as the mission statement of the series or film. Why is this story worth telling now? And why are you the one to tell it?

3. Characters: Show Us Who We’re Following

Characters are the emotional heart of any story. Introduce them visually and simply. Use concise bios, 1-2 sentences each. Include photos or visuals that reflect their personality or emotional journey.

In UNSEEN, each key character was presented with a short description and a casting-style image that conveyed both age and essence. Michelle, the calm, protective mother; Gordon, the rough edged, angry father; Blake, the charming but manipulative “friend.”

You’re not writing a novel here. You’re trying to give decision-makers a snapshot of who drives this story and what internal conflicts they bring to the table.

4. The World: Make It Visceral

Where does this take place? Not just geographically, but emotionally. A great story world feels lived in. It reflects the themes of the story and plays a role in shaping events.

Our UNSEEN deck captured the eerie quiet of a small Ontario town. We used real photos we've taken on North Bay to show how empty playgrounds, empty streets, and dingy apartments could make the ordinary unsettling.

Photo taken from the UNSEEN pitch package.

Think about your world like another character. What emotions does it evoke? How does it amplify tension or connection?

5. Structure and Episodes: Break It Down

Here’s where the idea starts to feel real. If you’re pitching a TV series, outline the episodes briefly, 1-2 sentences each. If it’s a film, walk through the act structure. Hit the major turning points without getting too granular.

In our UNSEEN pitch, each of the five episodes had a short paragraph. Enough to understand the arc, but still teasing the unfolding drama, like you'd see for a Netflix episode description.

Clarity is key. A producer should be able to read this section and know what the journey looks like, and when the major reveals happen.

6. Tones and Influences: Connect It to What Works

Everyone in the industry is trying to imagine how your project fits into the current market. Help them by naming films or series with similar tones or styles.

The UNSEEN deck cited Gone Girl, Prisoners, and Split. Each a grounded thriller with emotional depth and moral ambiguity. These references helped position the story within a recognizable genre space, while still highlighting what makes it unique.

Check out other famous pitch decks like the Montauk pitch (which became Stranger Things) for inspiration. Read the Montauk pitch deck here.

7. Why It Matters: Make It Personal

This is your closing argument. Why does this story matter? Why now? What lived experience, belief, or curiosity is fuelling this idea for you?

This section can be simple and emotional. Don’t oversell, just be honest.

For UNSEEN, we talked about the quiet epidemic of trafficking in Ontario, and our personal connection to the emotional core of parents trying to reconnect through shared loss. We kept the language clean and the passion clear.

You want the reader to close the document and feel something. If they do, they’re more likely to reach out.

A Few Final Notes:

Use high-quality visuals that reflect the tone of your story.

Reference existing films or shows wisely. Don't claim to be “the next Breaking Bad,” just help your reader imagine the feeling of your show.

Make it clear what makes your idea original. If the concept sounds familiar, make sure the execution feels surprising. A producer won't want to make something that's just your take on your favourite show, what is it about your idea that makes it original, unlike anything else out there.

Don’t over-explain. Lead them just far enough that they want to know more.

Need Help Crafting Yours?

At Vanish, we help turn early ideas into real, compelling pitch packages. Based in Northern Ontario, we know how to take a script or concept and shape it into a visual tool that gets producers, grant juries, and collaborators excited.

If you’ve got a narrative project you believe in, get in touch. We’d love to help bring it to life.

Reach out to us: contact@vanishentertainment.com