Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Elevator Pitch: YOUR TV Show Opening Narration
It’s important to have an “elevator speech.” A 30-second summary of what you’re working on to tell the boss… When meeting new people, a quick way to summarize the value of your company and what you do.
It can be challenging to boil down what you do into a short blurb… For inspiration, I suggest paying attention to the 30-second narrations at the beginning of TV shows.
At the start of each episode producers deliver the swift backstory and premise of the show. If this was our first viewing, we would understand what makes the show worth attention.
This is EXACTLY what you need for YOUR elevator pitch… What’s your 30-second blurb? Your backstory that builds awareness of the premise of you (or your project, company, etc…) and lets me know why you’re worth my attention?
For inspiration, here is the text… and some clips from some classic TV show “elevator pitches.” I’ve put mine at the bottom of this page…
Read and listen to these as if they were your own backstory. Ask yourself… Is mine as engaging? Would it make your customers want to tune in week after week?
My Name Is Earl
(:30 seconds)
You know the kinda guy who does nothing but bad things and then wonders why his life sucks?Well, that was me. Every time something good happened to me something bad was always waiting around the corner.
Karma.
That’s when I realized I had to change.
So I made a list of everything bad I’ve ever done and, one by one I’m gonna make up for all my mistakes.
I’m just trying to be a better person.
My name is Earl.
The A-Team
(20 seconds)
In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit.These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune.
If you have a problem. If no one else can help. And if you can find them. Maybe you can hire…
The A-Team.
The Incredible Hulk
(1 minute :08 seconds)
Doctor David Banner. Physician. Scientist. Searching for a way to tap into the hidden strength that all humans have.
Then an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry.
And now when David Banner grows angry or outraged a startling metamorphosis occurs.
The creative is driven by rage and pursued by an investigative reporter*.
“Mr. McGee… don’t make me angry… You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
The creature is wanted for a murder he didn’t commit.
David Banner is believed to be dead, and he must let the world think that he is dead until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Star Trek
(:30 seconds)
Space, the final frontier.These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
Its five year mission: to explore strange new worlds… to seek out new life… and new civilizations…
To boldly go where no man has gone before!
Bosom Buddies
Henry: When we first moved to New York we had a great apartment that was dirt cheap.
Kip: And we found out why it was so cheap (wrecking ball breaks through walls of apartment building).
Henry: Our friend Amy said there was a great apartment in her building. Dirt Cheap.
Kip: But it’s a hotel for women. OK! We made one adjustment. (Henry and Kip are dressed as women).
Henry: Now these other ladies know us as Buffy and Hildegarde.
Kip: But they also know us as Kip and Henry, Buffy and Hildy’s brothers. I’m crazy about the blonde.
Henry: This experience is going to make a great book.
Kip: See it’s all perfectly normal.
(Theme Music: “My Life” by Billy Joel)
Six Million Dollar Man
1 minute, 20 seconds
Opens with video of Steve Austin crashing while test piloting an aircraft.Steve Austin. Astronaut. A man barely alive.
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.
WE have the technology.
We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before.
Better. Stronger. Faster.
Even more…
As typical… the Internet is a storehouse of information you never knew existed.
Here is a link to a site called TV Acres that has a comprehensive listing of TV show narrations…
Idea Sandbox Elevator Pitch
(:20 seconds)
Problem Solver Paul Williams. Creative. Clever. Searching for a way to tap into the hidden strength that all humans have. (Imagination)
To boldly go where no brand has gone before!
WE have the technology.
We have the capability to make the world’s best iconic brand.
Yours can be that brand. Better than it was before.
Better. Stronger. Faster.
If you have a problem. If no one else can help. And if you can find me. Maybe you can hire…
My name is Idea Sandbox.
Paul: This experience is going to make a great book.
I made that faux elevator pitch using lines from many of the TV shows…
*I never understood why David Banner was so afraid of the investigative reporter. I’ve worked with many reporters over the years. While they ask some tough questions – none of them have inspired me to flee from town to town…
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16 reactions
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(1)Where's the sausage? • Tuesday, January 30 2007 at 4:45 pm
The 30 second pitch for “Your brand, the TV Programme”
Over at the Ideas Sandbox, Paul has posted about how TV programmes are introduced with a 30-second elevator pitch. This pitch grabs you if you’re a new viewer, and reminds you why you love it if you’re a fan. He
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(2)David Taylor (from wheresthesausage.com) • Tuesday, January 30 2007 at 4:48 pm
Paul, I love this idea and think it would also work really well for brand positioning. An example I have posted about is the Geek Squad. Their founder talks about thinking of your brand as a movie, from how you name it through to how you design the service and promote it.
http://wheresthesausage.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/the_30_second_p.html -
(3)Chris Brogan... • Tuesday, January 30 2007 at 5:31 pm
Now here’s the deal: go MAKE that video. What would it look like? Could you convey your convictions? How would you get it done?
Edwards, Obama, and Clinton have all taken a stab. What would YOUR video opening look like, actually recorded?
I’m a HUGE fan of your site.
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(4)David Brazeal • Tuesday, January 30 2007 at 6:16 pm
Wow — really great post and it makes me realize how bland most elevator pitches are (including mine). Gotta get to work on that, like now.
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(5)Walter Schwabe • Friday, February 2 2007 at 2:44 am
Great idea, love the site and will visit often…now I have to head off to create some footage…
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(6)Anthony • Monday, February 5 2007 at 6:10 am
Honestly, Paul, I have no idea what you do after reading your elevator pitch.
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(7)Paul (from Idea Sandbox) • Monday, February 5 2007 at 8:52 am
Anthony – It’s not you, it’s me. I was being silly and took a line from each of the TV show pitches. One line from “Hulk” one from the next from “Star Trek”… I agree… it makes no sense…
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(8)Susan Martin • Tuesday, February 6 2007 at 11:48 am
Thanks for this terrific posting, a must read for anyone trying to create or hone their message, I’m passing it along to all my clients and readers!
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(9)Marc Duchesne • Friday, February 9 2007 at 2:08 pm
Hello Paul : great & usefull post ! Thanks !
_marc -
(10)Thibault • Friday, February 9 2007 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for this collection of good videos. But I don’t understand your pitch. You do not tell us a story.
The TV intros are actually telling me a story. They also put me in the mood. I want to go further.
Maybe I missed something on your pitch but I sens a lack of honesty.Thanks again for your work on this post.
(By the way, I agree about your David Banner’s comment.)
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(11)Paul (from Idea Sandbox) • Tuesday, February 13 2007 at 4:57 pm
The Idea Sandbox pitch in this post is a combination of many of the TV pitches… Don’t fret… it’s not my actual pitch.
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(12)Becky Kittleson • Wednesday, October 17 2007 at 5:28 am
Hi, I’m new and wondering once you actually come up with your 30 second elevator pitch…what then? Who do you pitch it to without spending a fortune? I’m just an ordinary person on a very limited income and I feel like I have an excellent idea for a ‘reality’ type tv show. How does one proceed without getting ripped off? Thanks! Becky K.
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(13)Dansistemalia • Friday, January 11 2008 at 7:05 am
Make peace, not war!
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(14)Saul M. Detofsky • Tuesday, February 19 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hello CEO & Mktg. Team,
Please read my URL: http://letsmeetshow.com/. I need to get Let’s Meet on TV now. I have zero competition in the entire world. The Let’s Meet TV Show is the only interactive social meeting genre network on TV in the world, unparalleled by the Internet. The platform [TV] trumps the Internet because of all the inherent safety features built in on the public domain. Television still reins supremacy over the Internet since it is reliable without all the extra costs like monthly Internet service, costly computer, hardware updates, PC repairs, high security risks and date rapes and related crimes from meeting Internet strangers.
Once the Let’s Meet TV Show is ready to be aired on TV it will shown on mobile content first one week before it gets aired on TV. It’s called First Choice because anyone who has it will get the pick of the litter / cream of the crop as they say. Men can view 1000 women and women can view 1000 Men or one can view both men and women or whatever you program your phone to do. Your company can make more profit on the phones plus make mega millions from The Let’s Meet TV Show.
I am looking for a smart company that realizes showcasing people in the public domain is much safer than the Internet and will be much more profitable since most honest people will want to be seen on TV. There are over two thousand dating sites on the Internet and not one is on TV where most people are viewing TV every day. Why is Match.Com, Chemistry and e-Harmony.Com spending over 430 million on TV media advertising? I want to go worldwide where ever there is electricity, mobile phones and televisions that’s why Let’s Meet TV Show will excel. TVs’ aren’t even necessary, only mobile phones! Call me (321) 751-6963 24/7.
Thank you,
Saul M. Detofsky -
(15)John Svid • Monday, February 25 2008 at 9:10 am
Wow great site! Some really helpful information there.
I’m sorry for little off-topic, but I want to ask you about design of this site.
Did you make this template yourself or got from any templates website?
Looks pretty cool for me. Wonderful well this reading. -
(16)Life After College » Blog Archive » Personal Image and Branding • Monday, August 25 2008 at 8:07 pm
[...] this week that focuses on creative problem solving and branding. Here’s a post called “Elevator Pitch: YOUR TV Show Opening Narration” about boiling down messages you deliver about what you do (or what you are working on). Paul [...]
