Blog 2

To pitch A Boy's Life I would be sure to focus first on characters. Elliott, E.T., KEYS, and maybe briefly talk about Elliott's family and his relationship with them. In regards to Elliott and E.T., I would be sure to pitch the fact that the two essentially end up in very similar situations, as both feel as though they are stranded somewhere that they don't necessarily belong. In Elliott's case, he is a loner and gets picked on by his siblings and really doesn't have their respect in his own home. In E.T.'s case, obviously, he's stranded alone on a foreign planet. It would probably be good to also mention the connection between Elliott and E.T. and maybe why that is happening.

Next, I would be sure to arouse the people I'm pitching to with the fact that it's a mysterious movie about extra terrestrials. No one really knows what to expect from outer space, and it has always been a very intriguing aspect of human nature to wonder 'what if...' about alien encounters. I would explain the connection Elliott has with E.T. and the lack of fear the children show when they encounter the alien as they discover he is in fact a harmless creature who is simply trying to find his way home. I think it's very important to point out that the movie would appeal to children and families, as it is a feel-good story that would arouse a sensitive audience in a very positive and effective manner.

-Kevin Burrell

Discussion Q's:
1. A post-production form of pitching a film is through commercials and advertising. McKee suggests that proper promotion of a film should allow the audience to come to a movie with expectations of what is going to happen. What are the most important pieces of a film that you would want to 'pitch' in the trailer or other advertisements which would give the audience a good idea of what to expect coming into the movie?

2. What aspects of your own story, or A Boy's Life, would you feel are unnecessary to include in the pitch?