How to Pitch Your TV Show with Amber-Sekowan Daniels

A workshop for Indigenous and BPOC Creatives

Presented in partnership with the Winnipeg Indigenous Filmmakers Collective

This workshop is online and will not be recorded.

• Day 1  Saturday April 12th from 11am-130pm CST
• Day 2 Saturday April 19th from 11am-130pm CST

Got a great idea for a TV show? A story you want to share with the world? Ever wondered how an idea becomes a reality? This is the course for you. Amber-Sekowan Daniels will guide writers who have a concept for a television series on how to get their ideas seen, and how to sell them.

The workshop is two sessions, 2.5 hours per session. The goal is for each participant to learn about the pre-development process, from Pitch to Development. Creatives will be given an overview of the process, then be given the opportunity to practice pitching their own ideas, plus receive feedback from their peers.

Workshop Day 1

Day one focuses on learning the pitching process– an overview of what is needed and what to expect.

What Makes a Good Pitch?

• How Pitching Works
• The Pitch Meeting: How do we get here? Who will be there?
• Get to the Point: a guide on writing that is both engaging, and concise
• What Do They Want? : Dos, don’ts, and tips on how to answer network questions before they ask them.

Selling the Story

• What do you need?: An overview of the elements for your pitch– the Pitch Doc, The Pitch Deck, one sheet-er, logline
• The story engine: what makes a story idea move through multiple episodes
• Some examples of successful pitches and identify why they stood

They Like Your Idea, Now What?

• The Next Steps: Tips on meeting with Agents, Lawyers, and others involved in your Deal.
• Great Expectations : A realistic look at timelines and outcomes
• From Script to Screen: What happens when your development project gets greenlit

Homework: Come back with a quick punchy [length?] idea to pitch to the group.

Workshop Day 2

Day two focuses on participant participation, peers helping peers hone and carve their idea into something they can sell to a network.

Whaddaya Got?

• participants bring in their pitches, and pitch to the group. It’s good to hear your own story out loud in front of others, and to hear if you know it as well as you think you do.
• students provide positive and constructive feedback based on a rubric (ie: what did you like about the idea? What could use work? Was the idea engaging and unique? Do we see how this show could run for multiple seasons?
• students help one another find the perfect phrasing for their own pitches so they have something to bring out into the world.

Question Period

The opportunity to ask Amber-Sekowan questions about her experiences in the industry, how long her shows took to get made, and her dos and don’ts from her many development moments.

This workshop will not be recorded, participants must be present.

We are accepting a maximum of 12 registrants by application.

AMBER-SEKOWAN DANIELS is an Anisininew screenwriter, showrunner and comedian. She was born and raised in Winnipeg and is a band member of Garden Hill First Nation.

Amber is the creator and showrunner of the coming-of-age comedy Don’t Even for Crave and APTN. She was also a co-creator and co-showrunner on season 1 of the CTV Comedy/ APTN series Acting Good. Amber is currently a writer/ co- executive producer on Snotty Nose Rez Kids for CBC/APTN and Reality Distortion Field. She was in the room for CBC’s Trickster and co-wrote on Diggstown III for CBC.

Amber’s stand-up comedy has been featured in the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Oddblock Comedy Festival and on CBC’s The Debaters. She was awarded Reel World Film Festival’s 2021 Trailblazer award.

Presented in partnership with The Winnipeg Indigenous Filmmakers Collective

The Winnipeg Indigenous Filmmakers Collective (WIFC) is a grassroots community of Indigenous filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives dedicated to uplifting Indigenous voices in the film and media industry. Founded on the values of mentorship, collaboration, and cultural empowerment, WIFC provides a supportive space for filmmakers of all experience levels to develop their skills, connect with industry professionals, and bring their stories to the screen. Through workshops, incubators, and networking events, WIFC nurtures Indigenous talent, strengthens the presence of Indigenous-led storytelling, and empowers individuals to advocate for themselves and their work within the industry.

Our vision is to cultivate a thriving Indigenous film community in Winnipeg, where Indigenous filmmakers are empowered to share their stories with authenticity and creative freedom. By fostering a space that respects Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and lived experiences, WIFC seeks to break barriers in the film industry, ensuring that Indigenous artists have access to opportunities, resources, and professional networks. We strive to equip individuals with the tools and confidence to advocate for themselves, their creative work, and the fair representation of Indigenous voices in media.

If cost is a barrier, please apply to Creative Manitoba’s All-Access Inclusion Bursary.