Elevator Coverage

You've heard of an elevator pitch.

But have you heard of elevator coverage?

Probably not... because it's a term I made up 💅

But the concept is actually quite common, especially within the film industry.

And you've probably done it without even realizing it!

Um, yes way!

I've worked in creative development long enough to have come up with a term for what is essentially giving your opinion on a film, show, or script immediately after watching / reading it.

And I've been put on the spot enough times to come up with a method that helps you have your answer ready every time! hehehe

Although this post isn't going to be a very long read, most of my others are and will be. (Remember my 24-minute-long WICKED analysis?)

So I'm getting into the habit of recording audio or, in this case, a video of each post!

You can watch it below if reading isn't your thing but for some reason you've found yourself on a website called Reader Comments:

If you've chosen to read, get ready for some amazing gifs.

As expected 💅

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Elevator Coverage: How to Do it

Elevator coverage is essentially the reverse of an elevator pitch.

Instead of giving someone your idea very quickly, you're giving someone your opinion very quickly.

This is something that you'll have to get really REALLY good at if you work in development, or want to.

It can also be helpful if you're working as an assistant to a manager, agent, or executive who has a billion scripts to read at any given time.

Or, if you have a group of friends who love talking about movies and you also want to contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.

No matter which of these is most like you, you will inevitably be asked the same question:

"Hey... What'd you think about that?"

And very similar to how people feel when they're on the receiving end of an elevator pitch, you are going to feel trapped when you have to give elevator coverage.

anyone else love Ace Attorney?!

It always comes completely out of nowhere, when you least expect someone to ask you that question.

And at first you're gonna be like:

Or maybe even:

But then you're gonna remember these helpful tips I'm about to give you and be READY to answer before you're even asked "What'd you think?!"

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Elevator Coverage: Doing it Right

The rules to giving a good elevator coverage are very similar to the rules of giving a good elevator pitch.

You want to start with the main idea first.

For elevator coverage, this means the main thing you liked and the main thing you thought could be improved (we don't say didn't like -- because you'll often be in a situation where this sort of negativity could be hurtful to someone in the room)

Ideally, the thing that you liked would lead into the thing you thought could be improved.

This way, if you get cut off at this point, you at least got your key points out there.

A lot of times, you WILL be cut off after you say literally one sentence.

But this doesn't mean everyone wants you to stop talking, and it definitely doesn't mean you said anything stupid (i mean, if you're here reading Reader Comments, you obviously didn't 😏)

It usually means what you just said sparked a larger conversation.

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For example, if I were to give elevator coverage for WICKED, I'd start by saying something like:

Compared to the musical, I really enjoyed the extra worldbuilding surrounding the overarching plot about the discrimination against talking animals. But it did feel Elphaba's plot could have tied into this more directly, especially with the addition of the scene in act one where we see she was raised by a talking animal herself.

As you get to continue talking, you go from bigger picture notes to more granular notes.

But I can almost guarantee you will be cut off well before you get to the granular points.

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So if I got to keep talking after my first statement, I'd probably say something like:

It also felt like Galinda and Elphaba's friendship was fast-tracked towards the end of act two, and we really missed out on some opportunities to further dive into their characters and allow their relationship to grow over time.

I would DEFINITELY be cut off by that point (because someone else would agree and start giving their opinion 💅)

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If somehow people were still wanting to listen to me, my next point would be:

It also felt like Galinda was more properly set up to be the protagonist in act one, but in act two Elphaba is clearly taking the lead in moving the story forward.

And if someone didn't interrupt me by this point I'd be like ummmm don't you have something better to do than listen to me talk about this movie??

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But if they were like:

My next point would be:

It felt odd there was so much emphasis on establishing the Wizard's personality, just for him to immediately do a 180 and be revealed as evil. At that point, it would have been more effective to keep him as the mysterious, powerful entity he'd been established as up to this point, then be revealed to be evil as soon as Elphaba met him.

And seriously if someone didn't stop me at this point, I'd be checking people's pulses.

If everyone in the room was still alive, I'd say

omg you guys!!! i have 24 MINUTES of things to say about this movie! i can't say it all in this elevator -- i can't. just read my blog post!

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And there you have it!

That's the basics of elevator coverage!

If you want to learn a bit more about which of your points should be your main points, you can take a look at my Wicked Analysis post to see which of the notes I chose to say in my example elevator coverage.

But I understand if you don't want to read for 24-minutes to become a better elevator coverage deliver-er for the rest of your life.

Truly, I get it.

Now it's your turn!

Leave an elevator coverage for one of your favorite movies in the comments!