TV Pitch Script: “Crackerjack”
When I was coming up as a scribbler, nobody showed me actual pitch documents. I had to figure out the format, the rhythm, the balance of personal stakes and story mechanics on my own. That took years of bombing before I figured out what worked.
This pitch represents a specific approach: opening with personal connection (Call of Duty, YouTube rabbit holes, that cab crash in Manhattan), then pivoting into the world (the real Warrior Games), then the characters, then the season arc. It's a structure that's worked for me across multiple sales.
This document is 2,900 words, designed to run 17-18 minutes when performed. That's on the longer side, but military action shows need worldbuilding. You're not just pitching characters, you're pitching the arena they compete in and the larger geopolitical stakes.
A few things to notice as you read:
The personal bookend. I open with why I care (post-traumatic growth, veteran stories, my own near-death experience). I close by circling back to theme: warriors becoming "not just Tier One Operators but Tier One human beings."
Present tense character intros. "Eli's out of the military, living in his truck..." Not "Eli was." Present tense makes them real in the room.
Emotional architecture over plot mechanics. I don't walk through every episode beat. I share the spine: competitive challenges plus covert ops, interpersonal conflicts, big midseason twist, and climactic confrontation.
Natural transitions. "So let's stack up at the door of the C130 and jump right into Episode One." That's not a generic bridge phrase. It matches the military action tone of the show.
This pitch didn't sell (yet), but it's received strong responses and opened doors for other projects. That's how this business works. You pitch ten things to sell one, and the nine that don't sell still build relationships and prove you can think at scale.
Use this however it helps. Study the structure. Notice where I spend time and where I move fast. See how I balance character depth with plot momentum.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PITCH SCRIPT PDF: CRACKERJACK
