TRU Hosts Producer Boot Camp With Jane Petrov & Skytown Entertainment 6/27

Do you have the skill to find what is true and important about your ideas, and to present them clearly and convincingly? Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the TRU Producer Boot Camp: PITCHING & PRESENTATION SKILLS FOR WRITERS & PRODUCERS with Jane Petrov and Skytown Entertainment on Saturday, June 27 from 11am - 5pm at Where Eagles Dare, 347 W. 36th Street, Studio Blackbird, 13th floor, NYC. Admission is $175 ($150 for early registration before 6/12).

The economy may be a mess, but if writers and producers don't make an effort to go about "business as usual," there may never again be "business as usual." Now more than ever, producers and writers need to hone and fine-tune their skills with the hope of bringing their projects to fruition. TRU continues its exploration of "The Art of the Pitch" with this all-day intensive workshop created to help writers and producers be truer, more effective and more persuasive.

"We believe that there is an audience for good theater even in a bad economy, and that the theater community needs to hold on to its passion and vision and push forward with conviction. People are still producing, people are still investing. And theater is suddenly as reasonable an investment as the stock market, and a helluva lot more fun. Jane Petrov and her team did a sample Pitch & Presentation evening for our Producer Mentorship Program recently, and the mentees in our program found it so helpful and inspiring they asked us to put together this full day workshop," said TRU president Bob Ost.

Jane Petrov, President / SkyTown Entertainment, has an extensive background in presentation and communication skills training. She is an instructor and coach for attorneys and executives at top law firms and financial companies. Law firm clients include Sullivan & Cromwell, Milbank Tweed, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, White & Case and Allen & Overy. Financial corporation clients include Royal Bank of Scotland, Merrill Lynch and Avon Products. As Co-President of SkyTown Entertainment, Jane has directed and produced many corporate videos and overseen the development and production of two short comedic films; SkyTown is currently developing a psychological thriller/horror, slated for production in 2010. Prior to launching SkyTown, Jane served as the Artistic Director of PACT, a nonprofit theater company in New York City that developed new plays while creating a collaborative work environment for a diverse group of artists. Jane holds a BA in International Communications from The George Washington University.

Admission is $175 ($150 for early registration before 6/12); $25 off for members of TRU. Workshop limited to 20 participants. Pre-registration is available by emailing trunltd@aol.com. Applications are available at http://www.truonline.org/BootCampPitching.htm. Payment by check may be mailed to Theater Resources Unlimited, 309 W. 104th Street 1D, NYC NY 10025. On-line payment by Paypal or by credit card is available at www.truonline.org/store2.html.

SCHEDULE - Saturday, June 27th
11:00-11:20am - SkyTown Introduction

11:20am-noon - Warm Up & Benchmark (vidoetaped)
* Objective: Give participants the opportunity to see themselves presenting so they discover how they appear to others and will be open to learning new skills.
* Exercise: Participants give a 2-3 minute talk about their job or a current project, then talk about something they like to do outside of work. Videotape each participant for 2-3 minutes. No coaching. Feedback given.

noon-12:15pm - Break

12:15-12:45pm - Eye Contact
* Objective: To teach participants how to use their eyes when presenting to one or more than one person.
* Exercise: Instructor demos a success story. Participants divide into groups of three. "Pitcher" relates a success story while listeners count to 5 and cue pitcher's change of focus. Participants repeat their story standing up.
* Feedback: Did participants offer eye contact to one person at a time for 5 seconds or a complete thought? This is the key skill to presenting which will be reinforced throughout the program.

12:45-1:30pm - Body Language (Gestures)
* Objective: Participants learn techniques to center themselves, put best self forward and deliver a clear message.
* Exercise: Instructor will demo a story. Participants prepare a 2-minute physical activity story. Participants practice 1 minute of gesture talk in small groups sitting and/or standing.
* Feedback: Feedback is eye contact/gestures. Feedback in small groups.

1:30-1:45pm - Break

1:45-2:15 pm - Using Notes
* Objective: Participants learn techniques to reference their notes with silence and ease, and deliver information with good pacing and intention.
* Exercise: Instructor will demo. Participants prepare notes using their favorite plays/musicals. Participants practice in groups of two sitting and/or standing.
* Feedback: Eye contact. Did participant only talk when speaking to a pair of eyes?

2:15-2:45pm - Lunch

2:45-3:15pm - Organize Your Pitch
* Objective: Using SkyTown's organizational methodology, participants will begin to put together a short pitch.
* Exercise: Each participant will choose a pitch. They will create notes for practicing.

3:15-3:45pm - Practice All Skills Using Own Notes (groups of three).

3:45-4:00pm - Break

4:00-5:00pm - Formal Pitches (Videotape in 2 rooms)
* Objective: To give participants an opportunity to deliver their 4-5 minute pitch.
* Exercise: Have each participant choose a presentation skill challenge. Give the full presentation without interruption. Q & A at end. Instructor gives feedback - addressing the challenge. Participant watches tape privately.

This program will also touch on Communication Styles and Handling Tough Questions.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is a not-for-profit service organization that provides educational and support services for the performing arts with a focus on the business side of the arts. In particular, TRU helps producers, theater companies and self-producing artists navigate the business of making theater in the New York area and beyond, as well as providing networking opportunities. Programs include Boot Camps about producing skills, monthly educational panels, a play and musical developmental reading series, producer mentorships, an annual combined audition event, free workshops for actor members and a community newsletter of services, good, opportunities, ticket discounts and more. TRU also maintains a referral database of over 6000 arts professionals.

Programs of Theater Resources Unlimited are supported in part by public funds awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), as well as generous support from the Friar's National Foundation Association.

For more information about TRU membership, visit www.truonline.org or call 212-714-7628.

 

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