2025 Pitch-a-Pro Night

PITCH-A-PRO Night

Deadline to register is 12:00 noon on Monday, June 23rd.

 

Monday, June 23rd, 2025, 7:00-9:00 PM, PT (Virtual on Zoom)

$20 WIFSBA Members

$40 Non-members

Are you a screenwriter with a completed script or a director with a project looking for a producer? Are you a producer looking for a partner? Then come to our Pitch-A-Pro Night when you can present your 2–3-minute pitch to the producer or other industry professional of your choice in a Zoom breakout room (verbal pitches only with no digital visuals, please). If there is space and time, you may be able to pitch more than one executive. At the end of the evening, at least 3 lucky people will get a chance to pitch all of the professionals at once before the entire audience. Register quickly as there are only 10 slots per industry pro. If the limit is reached, you will be notified to choose a different pro or to get your money back. Deadline to register is 12:00 noon on Monday, June 23rd.

Evan Alpaugh is an Original Content Development Manager at Tubi.

Evan is looking for:

• Younger skewing features (Gen Z space/18-24). 

• Genre projects like comedy, thriller, horror, action, sci-fi, etc. 

• No slow burn dramas. 

• Female-led and diverse stories are highly welcomed!

•  He is also open to published book-to-screen projects.

 

Jason Lubin is a manager-producer and the principal at First Story Entertainment, which he founded in 2018. The lit management company represents a diverse roster of talented writers and directors with fresh voices in all genres for Film and TV.  The company’s clients have been staffed on shows on multiple networks including Showtime, CW,Apple+ and Netflix and have sold series to Disney and Max.  Jason also develops both feature film and television projects under the company’s banner. 

Jason is looking for: 

 

Lucas Ford is an award-winning Canadian film and television producer and development executive with a passion for championing bold, filmmaker-driven storytelling. Most recently as a film executive at Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Entertainment, Lucas contributed to cultural hits like Stranger Things,Shadow & Bone, and Free Guy, and developed projects with major studios including Netflix, Warner Bros, and A24, such as the viral feature adaptation of The Backrooms. Under his Ford Films banner, Lucas has produced projects that have been selected at SXSW, Slamdance, Sitges, Austin and Telefilm Canada’s Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival.

Lucas is looking for feature scripts that are either:

 

Sofia Rovaletti is the Director of Development at MoJo Global Arts (Murder in a Small Town, R.U.R), where she sources the company with projects in English and Spanish, and develops feature films. Her latest feature as an independent producer, TENDER starring Jesse Garcia (Flaming’ Hot, and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey), David Koechner (Anchorman), and Shakira Barrera (Glow) is in post.

Sofia is looking for Feature Films in these genres:

 

Brett Takeshita is a Los Angeles-based creative executive and filmmaker who received a B.A. in Film & Television Production, and a minor in Film, Television & Media Studies from Loyola Marymount University. After graduation, he freelanced for 3 years by producing, directing, and writing wild comedies before switching gears and serving as a Junior Executive in Original Programming at Hallmark Media. Across their 3 channels, he helped oversee nearly 40 films through development, production, and postproduction. 

He currently serves as Original Content Manager at Tubi, where he has shepherded over 60 projects to fruition, including the #1 Originals’ franchise THE STEPMOTHER and the cult adult animated series THE FREAK BROTHERS (Pete Davidson, Tiffany Haddish, Woody Harrelson). He is excited about his multiple upcoming releases this year including gritty western THE THICKET (Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis) and the fresh NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD reboot called FESTIVAL OF THE LIVING DEAD (Camren Bicondova, Andre Anthony).

Brett is looking for:

 

Brendan Kenney is a Los Angeles-based producer and manager with over a decade of experience in film and television, specializing in story development, creative strategy, and talent management.

Brendan’s work spans a range of mediums, from scripted features to short-form content, always championing character-driven, impactful storytelling. Now at the helm of his own management and production company, Mad Delusion, Brendan continues to develop and produce compelling content, with projects in the works at Fifth Season, Made Up Stories, Clubhouse Pictures, Flower Films, and Iconoclast. Known for his strategic approach to creative development and his collaborative leadership style, he excels at guiding projects from concept to screen, working closely with writers, directors, and talent to bring distinctive stories to life.

Brendan is looking for:

• BIG Studio Action
• Action/Comedies
• Romances and Rom-Coms
• Thrillers and Erotic Thrillers

All should be left of center with their own unique take on those genres.

Some comps are: ANYONE BUT YOU, PAST LIVES, HIT MAN, FAIR PLAY

 

Marybeth Sprows oversees AFFIRM Television, through an overall producing deal exclusive to Sony Pictures Television. She shepherds all aspects of development and production for AFFIRM’s unique audience seeking faith, family, and inspirational content. While at Sony, she has sold pilots to CBS, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video and is currently in development on a Netflix series. 

Marybeth is looking for:

 

Jessica Schwartz is an accomplished entertainment development executive and producer currently serving as Head of Development at Roundtable Entertainment, where she oversees both scripted and unscripted content. She has experience pitching, selling, and developing with major platforms including Netflix, Warner Bros., HBO, Peacock, Hulu, Apple, CBS, Amazon, E!, and Lifetime.

At Roundtable she served as Co-Producer on All My Friends Are Dead (Tribeca Premiere), directed by Marcus Dunstan, starring JoJo Siwa and Jade Pettyjohn.

Jessica is looking for:

 

 

Alexia Melocchi is an accomplished entertainment industry professional with a track record of success within both the domestic and international arenas. A vital contributor to the LITTLE STUDIO FILMS brand and as a P.G.A producer with over 35 credits, she uses her professional relationships and expertise in screenplay development, film and television IP packaging, securing co-productions and arranging for US and International Distribution for her clients’ projects. A regular participant at most major film and television markets as well as festivals around the world, Alexia still pursues international acquisitions and uses a global film marketing approach for her clients’ projects as well as the films she produces under the Little Studio Films banner.

Alexia is looking for:

 

S.P. Taylor is the Chief Executive Officer of Bonfire Entertainment, where he leads the company’s strategic vision, oversees all film and television production operations, and spearheads partnerships across the entertainment industry. As CEO, S.P. is responsible for shaping Bonfire’s creative slate, driving financial growth, and ensuring that each project aligns with the company’s mission to champion bold, original storytelling. Under his leadership, Bonfire Entertainment has cultivated a slate of diverse and market-driven projects that reflect both innovation and commercial viability.

As a producer, S.P. has led the development and production of three feature films: Demonic Dead and Krispr (both currently streaming on Amazon Prime), and Blue Wilderness, which is in the final stages of post-production.

S.P. is looking for screenplays that are:

 

Jay Glazer is a manager and producer at Neon Kite who has built a reputation for cultivating emerging talent and meaningful projects across film, television, and theater. Since joining Neon Kite, Jay has assembled a roster of diverse talent including breakout star Brandon Sklenar (1923, The Housemaid, Drop), Laura Streicher (Curb Your Enthusiasm), and more.

As a producer, Jay has successfully expanded his creative footprint with his debut feature film Get Luke Lowe (2020) starring Emma McDonald, and is currently in post-production on the thriller Body Language for Fox Entertainment Group, starring Christina Milian and directed by Cory Miller. A highlight of Jay's producing career is the upcoming film Grendel with The Jim Henson Company and filmmaker client Bob Krzykowski. The film, which offers a fresh perspective on the legendary monster from the Beowulf, will feature practical creature work from Jim Henson's Creature Shop and is set to begin production in 2025.

Jay is looking for:

 

Michael Peterson is the Vice President of Development for Phoenix Pictures, where he served as the Production Executive on THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula" novel in production partnership with Steven Spielberg's Amblin, Universal, and Dreamworks, a Producer on the Critics Choice-nominated mini-series THE LONG ROAD HOME with National Geographic, as well as the biopic THE 33 with Antonio Banderas, THE PROMISE with Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac, and the Monty Python comedy ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING with Kate Beckinsale and Simon Pegg.

 

Phoenix Pictures is known for producing critical and commercial hit films, including the Oscar-winning film BLACK SWAN, Martin Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING, and THE THIN RED LINE, among others.

 

Michael is looking for TV, features, and podcasts, and the genres he likes are:

• Drama
• Comedy
• RomCom
• Action
• Adventure
• Thriller
• Horror

*Recording of the pitches is strictly prohibited and we are not recording it either.

**Do not attempt to contact these pros outside of Pitch-A-Pro as they do not take unsolicited pitches. Doing so may prevent you from pitching during the event.

***For your protection, we require you to register your work with the WGA or US Copyright Office. You will be asked to sign a release form before pitching any of our professionals.

Participant acknowledges that some of the executives are in the business of creating and developing videos and receive various proposals relating to potential projects, ideas and concepts. Industry pros may be independently developing projects substantially similar and even identical to the submission. Therefore, any similarity between a submission and any element in any current, future, or existing industry pro's project, or creative work would be purely coincidental. Industry pros will not, and have no obligation to, treat any submissions as confidential or proprietary, and will incur no liability with respect to the submission. ***

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at bod-admin@wifsfba.org with the Subject Line: Pitch-A-Pro.

A Zoom link will be provided the day before the event. Please do not share the link with others. Attendees will be kept in the waiting room until their registration is confirmed.