Nail Your North Star & Hook
Discover the emotional and strategic core of your story — and why it matters to them, not just you.
Structure Like a Pro
Learn the “rollercoaster model” to build tension, pace your story, and keep viewers engaged from open to credits.
Pitch with Confidence
Walk away with a pitch-ready narrative that’s aligned with the right outlet, the right audience, and your unique voice.
About the Course
Your documentary idea matters. But to make it land, you need to shape it into a story that sells. This course takes you step-by-step from inspiration to execution, helping you distill your message, sharpen your structure, and build a pitch that makes people care. You’ll explore the emotional relevance of your story, define its mission and market appeal, and use real-world case studies to develop a hook that sets you apart. Along the way, you’ll learn how to pace your narrative, find your voice, and navigate practical realities like access, contributors, and budget. While rooted in documentary storytelling, this course is designed for any creator or communicator developing narrative-based work—from podcast pitches and nonfiction series to brand storytelling and educational media. Whether you're pitching to Netflix, PBS, a podcast platform, or your local doc fest, this course will give you the foundation and fire to get there.
Feedback From Our Community
Shared thoughts from those who’ve taken the course — and found value.
I highly recommend IDEA TO PITCH for anyone developing media projects. Shannon is engaging and inspiring.
★★★★★
She breaks down the fundamentals so elegantly that everyone, from novice to expert, will find value in this course.
★★★★★
Meet Your Instructor
Shannon Malone-Benedictis (she/her) is a two-time Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, creative consultant, speaker, and facilitator. From writing her first play at age 10 to executive producing documentaries for Disney+, Netflix, and others, she's always loved telling stories. Her first career was as a talent agent, so she knows what it takes to sell not only an award-winning program but also an award-winning professional.
Curriculum
-
1
INTRODUCTION
-
2
From Idea to Inspiration
-
(Included in full purchase)
Understanding the Power of a Story
-
(Included in full purchase)
Key Questions You Should Ask Yourself
-
(Included in full purchase)
Emotional Connection and Audience Relevance
-
(Included in full purchase)
Class 1 Worksheet
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
3
North Star & The Hook: Mapping The Journey
-
(Included in full purchase)
Defining Your "North Star" & Hook
-
(Included in full purchase)
Case Study: A Classic Nursery Rhyme + Modern Classic
-
(Included in full purchase)
Identifying The Key Elements
-
(Included in full purchase)
Class 2 Worksheet
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
4
Structuring the Story – Rollercoaster Model
-
(Included in full purchase)
Crafting a Compelling Pitch
-
(Included in full purchase)
Story = A Roller Coaster
-
(Included in full purchase)
Building and Maintaining a Compelling Narrative
-
(Included in full purchase)
Class 3 Worksheet
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
5
Building Blocks – People, Access, and Budget
-
(Included in full purchase)
Assembling the Best Team
-
(Included in full purchase)
Securing Access and Locations
-
(Included in full purchase)
Budgeting Realities: Funding, Sponsorship & Editorial Tradeoffs
-
(Included in full purchase)
Class 4 Worksheet
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
6
Audience and Execution – From Pitch to Production
-
(Included in full purchase)
Making the Perfect Match
-
(Included in full purchase)
Case Study: INSIDE THE MIND OF A CAT
-
(Included in full purchase)
Class 5 Worksheet
-
(Included in full purchase)
-
7
CONCLUSION
-
(Included in full purchase)
Final Thoughts
-
(Included in full purchase)
🎥 Ready to Pitch Your Story With Power?
Enroll now and start shaping your story into a pitch that gets noticed.
$19.99