That's all such great advice. For my money, the most important quality is passion. Give them your pitch as if you just walked out of the theater and thought this was the greatest movie ever, talk about it as if you're urging a friend to go run to the theater and buy a ticket.

Ben, that brings up one of the greatest Hollywood anecdotes I've ever heard. Back when LOTR: The Fellowship of the Rings came out, I went to a special screening in Beverly Hills at which several of the film's above-the-line crew were present for an after-screening Q&A. And a producer on the film told this amazing story about how the movie ended up getting made. Originally Peter Jackson had a deal with Miramax to make LOTR as two movies. One day the studio brings in Jackson and announces they've decided to do it as one movie. Jackson is shocked by the news. First thing he's heard of this and he says there's no way you can adapt LOTR as a single film. They tell him, "Well, we already have another writer lined up who's ready to do it." Jackson, who has been developing LOTR for years, gets his reps to put pressure on Miramax who finally agree to this: "We'll give you 2 weeks to set it up elsewhere." Pressure on, Jackson scurries around to find another studio. But none of the usual suspects is ready to step up. He pitches the project to Polygram/Working Title, but they are in the process of a business shift and can't do anything. Finally it comes down to one potential buyer: New Line. Jackson prepares for his pitch meeting with NL studio chief Bob Shaye like there's no tomorrow, working up sketches, preparing models, and so forth. He gets in Shaye's office, then takes off like a madman, leaping around the room, telling the story, acting out all the parts -- hobbits, elves, orcs, wizards, everything. Goes on and on and on for like 30 or 40 minutes, non-stop throwing himself in the pitch because he knows if he can't sell it here, he's going to lose the project. Finally he stops, covered with sweat, gasping for breath, flopping down into a chair. Shaye, who has not said a word the entire pitch, stares at Jackson for a few seconds, then asks, "There are three books aren't there." Jackson blinks, then nods his head. Shaye says, "Well, why not make three movies?" New Line procured the project from Miramax, ponied up $270M to finance back-to-back-to-back production of the three LOTR movies... and the rest as they say is history. But there you have an example of a filmmaker's passion winning the day.

Wow - amazing story, Scott! I think that's all studios really want, right? -- to buy something that excites them (artistically, financially, etc.), and if the writer is excited, that's the fuse that can ignite the project. You're a salesman when you're pitching, you have to really play that part. I learned how to pitch from a friend of mine who has sold so many pitches it's pretty ridiculous. He talks about his scripts like he just discovered a buried treasure. And it's impossible not to absorb his enthusiasm. Also, watch any interview with Harvey Weinstein where he plugs his movies and you'll know exactly how to pitch.

Basically, if you're passionate about your project, someone else will be passionate about your project.