How to pitch a winning treatment for every brief.

The demand for eye-catching, highly creative content has never been bigger. On Genero, briefs and opportunities from brands and music artists around the world go out to a community of filmmakers, animators, editors, photographers and designers.

Spot a brief you're interested in? The next step is to pitch. Most submissions involve sharing relevant examples of your work along with an overview of your idea and a response to the brief, which might include a full treatment PDF. Requirements vary from brief to brief (so read each one carefully), but one thing always helps: a good first impression.

Whether you're a seasoned pitcher or new to the industry, these pointers will help you put your best foot forward and increase your chances of being commissioned.

1. Make your profile stand out

Keep your Genero profile up to date with a short bio, a slick profile photo (or logo) and links to your best work. It's nice for the client to put a name and face to your treatment if you're pitching as an individual, and a great chance to show off your branding if you're a production company.

2. Tailor your work for the job

Write your pitch and choose work examples with the client in mind. A showreel gives a good overview, but it's just as important to include examples relevant to the brief and the idea you're pitching. If the brief calls for experience in a certain field, highlight your ability to execute similar content.

3. Don't rush

Take your time reading each brief and its submission requirements. Clients want to see that you understand the task. Your response should be personalised, on-brand and right for the audience. Don't recite the client's brief back to them. Be memorable, and show them what a collaboration with you could look like.

The same goes for the writing itself. Double check your spelling and grammar, because mistakes are a real turn-off. Creative production is about precision, and a careless treatment won't give the client much confidence in your ability to deliver their job.

4. Be visual

One of the best ways to communicate an idea is visually. Consider mood boards, storyboards and visual references to convey your approach or aesthetic. Sharing the styles, techniques or equipment you plan to use adds useful context too.

5. Introduce your team

Whether you're a freelancer or a production company, be clear about who will work on the project. Clients need to know who they're selecting, so introduce the team you're putting forward, with relevant reels, bios and key info.

6. Keep it simple

Like an elevator pitch, you need to get your main idea across quickly, clearly and memorably. You might have the best idea for the brief, but ten pages of dense text or a 20-minute video pitch will lose the reviewer fast.

Attention to detail is a plus, but clients don't want to scroll through pages of complex budgets or schedules. In fact, don't include a budget or cost breakdown unless the brief specifically requests one. The budget is set for a reason, so pitch for the correct amount; pitches that quote under or over the budget can't be accepted.

If the brief does ask for detailed documents, consider uploading them separately from the main treatment so the information doesn't get lost. Think about the impression you want to make, and make it easy for the client to understand your concept, experience and approach.

7. Save, preview and pitch before the deadline

Pay careful attention to the submission deadline and get familiar with GMT. Each brief lists the closing time in both GMT and your local timezone. Leave yourself a buffer before the deadline in case of technical difficulties.

When you're ready, save your pitch as a draft and preview it before submitting. You'll receive an email confirming your submission, and clients can start reviewing your pitch straight away.

Everyone has their own style and approach to treatments, but stick to these rules and you'll go a long way towards getting your ideas commissioned. Most of all, have fun with your submissions. And if you have any questions about pitching on Genero, the team is always here to help.