Tips for Pitching in a General Meeting
General meetings—often called “generals”—are one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of building your career as a director. They’re not the same as a pitch meeting where you’re selling a specific project. Instead, a general is about you—your voice, your taste, your experiences, and why you’re someone an executive, producer, or studio should keep in mind for future opportunities.
The goal isn’t to walk out with a job offer. It’s to walk out with a new champion for your work and to plant the seeds for future collaborations. But like anything in this industry, a great general takes preparation, focus, and an understanding of the unspoken rules of the room.
Below are practical tips to make sure your next general leaves a lasting impression.
1. Know Who You’re Meeting—and Why
Before you walk in the door (or log onto Zoom), research the person you’re meeting with. What projects have they worked on? What genres do they gravitate toward? Where did they go to school?
This doesn’t mean rattling off their IMDb credits to prove you’ve done your homework—it means tailoring your conversation so it feels relevant to their world. If they’ve worked on a show you admire, share what about it resonated with you. If they went to your alma mater, maybe you know some of the same people. It’s little details like this that open the door to a friendlier conversation.
2. Lead with Your Story, Not Just Your Credits
Your résumé will get you in the room, but your story will make them remember you. Why do you direct? What themes pull you in again and again? Is there a personal journey or pivotal moment that shapes the way you approach your work?
In a general, executives want to understand your creative DNA. Don’t just list the projects you’ve done—share the through-line that connects them.
3. Be Ready to Talk Process
Directors who can clearly articulate how they work are more likely to inspire confidence. Be ready to talk about your on-set leadership style, your collaboration with department heads, and even how you approach prep and post.
If you’re meeting about episodic television, for example, they’ll want to know how you step into an established show and maintain its tone while bringing your own unique flair. If it’s feature development, they might be interested in your instincts for story, casting, and pacing.
4. Keep It a Conversation
A general meeting should never feel like you’re delivering a monologue.
Ask questions about the executive’s current projects, challenges they’re facing, or what kinds of stories they’re looking for right now. Not only does this keep the meeting dynamic, but it also gives you a chance to find genuine points of connection.
5. Have a Clear “Leave-Behind”
By the end of the meeting, the executive should walk away with a concise idea of who you are and what you’re working on next. This could be as simple as:
“She’s a director who loves grounded, character-driven genre stories, and is currently developing a contained thriller set in the Midwest.”
If they remember nothing else, they should have a quick, memorable line they can repeat when recommending you to others.
7. Follow Up Without Being Forgettable
After the meeting, send a brief thank-you email—ideally referencing something specific you discussed. This isn’t about chasing them for work; it’s about reinforcing your connection and leaving the door open for future conversations.
8. Remember: It’s a Long Game
Generals are often the beginning of a relationship, not the end. That producer you met with last year might call you out of the blue with an episode offer. Or maybe five years down the road, they’re looking for a project that aligns with something you’re developing. Staying on someone’s radar is less about constant contact and more about occasional, meaningful check-ins—sharing a new piece of work, an award win, or a career milestone.
Put These Tips into Practice at Back to Set
Want to see how this works in real time? Join us Friday 9/26 at 9:30 AM for Pitching Yourself in the General, presented with our partners at Keslow Camera.
AWD Icon Morenike Joela Evans and top film/TV executives—including Hannah Baker from Proximity—will break down how to present your authentic voice while aligning with what execs are actually looking for. The session will include two live mock generals—with real-time feedback—and tangible takeaways you can apply immediately to your own meetings.
And here’s your chance to take the hot seat: Submit your reel and résumé for consideration, and you could be one of two directors selected to pitch live on stage. The winners will also receive $10,000 in rental credit from Keslow Camera to power their next project.
Whether you’re new to generals or looking to sharpen your approach, this workshop will give you the tools—and the confidence—to make every meeting count.