How to Build a Pitch Deck: The South African Way

So, you’ve written the next Shanty Town or Binnelanders script and now it’s time to pitch it, right? You’re buzzing with excitement but also a little nervous—who’s going to take you seriously? Enter the magical world of the pitch deck. Think of it as your script’s hype man: it gets people to pay attention and see the vision you’ve been living with inside your head.

Leah McKendrick, the genius behind Scrambled, generously shared her own pitch deck, and we’ll break down the basics to help you build one too. But first, let’s face it: it can be daunting. We’re all creatives, but that doesn’t mean we’re graphic designers. Don’t stress! A pitch deck is your opportunity to get your ideas across in a visual, fun, and impactful way.

Tools for Building Your Pitch Deck

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard to get this done. These tools are user-friendly and will get you results faster than you can say “Mzanzi’s next big hit!”

• Pitchdeck
• Canva
• Google Slides
• PowerPoint
• Adobe Acrobat

If you’re aiming to impress, pick the one that feels like the right fit for you. And remember, it’s about your vision, not the software’s cool factor.

Where to Find Your Visuals

A pitch deck without visuals is like biltong without the spice – just not right. Here’s where you can find some gems:

• Film Grab
• Shot Deck
• Getty Images
• Flickr
• Public Domain Review

You can even try Google, though be careful with copyright stuff (we don’t need that kind of drama).

What to Include in Your Deck

A pitch deck isn’t a rigid structure—it’s more like a braai; add what feels right, but make sure you’ve got the essentials covered:

1. Synopsis & Logline
2. Key Themes
3. Visual Style (think colour palette, references to similar films)
4. Relevant Quotes/Articles (maybe something that’ll make them laugh or go “hmm”)
5. Charts, Graphs, or Info (you never know—if it fits, it works)

The point is to make it engaging. Show the producer, exec, or investor the world you’ve created.

The Final Egg

Pitch decks can be a lot of fun once you embrace them. Don’t stress about making it perfect—just get the key ideas across. And remember, the deck is yours to make, so feel free to experiment. It’s your chance to shine and prove your story is the one they need to back.

P.S. Check out Leah McKendrick’s pitch deck for Scrambled below for some inspiration.

Source Info:https://nofilmschool.com/how-to-build-a-pitch-deck