Pitchers 2.0

FICCI FYI, which allows aspiring screenwriters pitch ideas directly to production houses and studios, is back with its second editionFICCI FYI, that allows aspiring screenwriters pitch ideas directly to production houses and studios, is back with its second edition

March 27, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:42 am IST

Productions houses, including those of John Abraham (left) and Rajkumar Hirani (right), will participate in the event

Productions houses, including those of John Abraham (left) and Rajkumar Hirani (right), will participate in the event

The eternal problem for aspiring screenwriters in the Hindi film industry — or any film industry for that matter — is the lack of access to production houses and studios. Who do you write to? Wil your script even reach the right person?

But things are changing. As studios increasingly realise the need for quality content for their films, they are also making an effort to reach out to potential writers in innovative ways.

A number of platforms, like the NFDC Screenwriter’s Lab and Drishyam-Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab, have come up in the last few years to function as a platform that brings together the two parties. If you have a script or an idea for a script, you have to submit your entry. If the judges/mentors select it, you will be shortlisted, and so on.

What makes FICCI FYI (Find Your Idea) different is the lack of an initial screening process. If you have an idea, all you need to do is register yourself and get the chance to pitch it directly to the production houses.

Viraf Pheroze Patel, honorary director of the event, says: “Even a housewife with an idea or a story to tell gets the chance to interact with someone like Dharma Productions. If they like it, they may want to hire you and develop the idea.” The event, to be held on March 30, 31, and April 1, is in its second edition this year.

The programme has grown considerably bigger than last year’s edition, when it had Disney Studio and Phantom Films both picking up two participants. This year, the names that have been added to the list are Raju Hirani Films, Dharma Productions, Balaji Motion Pictures, Rohit Shetty Productions, Drishyam Films, John Abraham Productions, and Kabir Khan Films.

“Getting so many big production houses from the industry is a complex exercise. But this just goes on to show how open they are for good content,” says Patel. He explains why the lack of an initial screening gives everyone a fair chance, and eliminates subjective points-of-view: “What I may find mediocre may be something interesting to a production house. I may not know about something specific that they may be looking for their content. It may also be the case that a certain idea may not be selected, but they may like something else about the writer and collaborate with him.”

Last year’s event changed the course of careers for Siddhanta Ashdhir, an engineer and Nihit Bhave, a journalist at the time. At present, both are developing their scripts with two major production houses.

patel says, “For a complete outsider, or even someone with contacts in the industry, it is impossible to get a studio to sit in front of you and listen to you for 10 minutes. Instead of sending your script to random email IDs, you get a brainstorming session right there with top guys from leading production houses.”

The new additions this time: the introduction of: digital content, short films and documentaries as well as finished content.

While a meeting of 10 minutes each with four producers is ensured, participants also get the chance to list their choice of producers they want to pitch to according to priority. Considering all producers have a limited time, the slots will will be allotted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Today is the last day for registration, charges for which are Rs 4,000 (Rs 2,500 for students). More: ficci-frames.com/fyi/

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