templatesIPpitch

How to Land IP Deals: A Template Pitch Inspired by The Orangery–WME Move

ccontent directory

2026-02-09

10 min read

Fill-in-the-blanks pitch deck + email template to help creators land transmedia IP deals—rights, packaging, outreach cadence inspired by the Orangery–WME move.

Hook: Stop guessing — pitch like an IP partner, not a hobbyist

Creators and small studios tell us the same things: agencies ignore cold emails, managers pass on vague decks, and rights negotiations feel like a foreign language. In 2026, that friction is the difference between a transmedia franchise and a stalled comic. The recent Orangery–WME signing is a clear signal: agencies are actively hunting packaged IP that includes clear rights, revenue paths and audience data. This guide gives you a plug-and-play fill-in-the-blanks pitch deck and email templates you can use right now to land IP deals with agents, managers and platforms.

Why this matters in 2026 (and why timing is in your favor)

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought a wave of high-profile IP partnerships. Agencies such as WME are signing transmedia studios instead of waiting for finished TV shows — they want packaged IP with built-in audiences and flexible rights. Platforms like YouTube negotiating bespoke deals with broadcasters (e.g., BBC talks in early 2026) show that distribution partners are open to new production relationships.

What this means for creators:

Agencies prefer packaged IP — a clear rights roadmap, monetisation plan and audience proof points.
Platforms co-produce more often, buying concepts with cross-platform roadmaps.
Speed matters — agents have less time to educate; your deck must be explicit.

Top-level strategy: What agencies actually want

Before you build the deck, internalise what an agent or manager looks for:

Scalable IP — concepts that translate to film, TV, games, podcasts, merch.
Clear Rights Stack — who owns what, what you're offering, option mechanics.
Traction — audience metrics (readership, subscribers, engagement, revenue).
Packaging potential — talent attachments, development-ready scripts, sizzle reels.
Business model — revenue splits, merchandising, licensing, backend participation.

One-page summary: Fill-in-the-blanks

Start every outreach with a snappy one-page summary. Make it scannable — agents read fast.

One-page pitch template (copy and paste; fill the brackets):

Title: [IP Title] — [Tagline/Logline in one sentence]
Creator(s): [Your name/company]
Format: [Graphic novel / YA series / IP catalogue / Short films]
Traction: [Total readers / monthly active users / sales / pre-orders / TikTok views]
Transmedia Roadmap: [Year 1: audio series; Year 2: limited TV; Year 3: games/merch]
Rights Offered: [e.g., Worldwide film & TV option (18 months); Non-exclusive merchandising rights]
Key Attachments: [Sizzle reel link; Artist samples; Script draft]
Ask: [Representation / First-look option / Co-producer / Development financing]
Contact: [Email / Phone / Link to press kit]

Pitch deck: Slide-by-slide fill-in-the-blanks

Build a 10–12 slide deck. Keep visual assets high-res and keep text to the essentials. Below is a slide-by-slide template you can paste into Keynote/PowerPoint/Figma.

Slide 1 — Cover

Include logo, title, one-line logline and a single arresting image.

Example: [Title] — [Logline]. Visual: [Hero illustration or still].

Slide 2 — Hook / Why Now

Explain why this IP is timely. Refer to market trends if relevant.

Fill: "The market is hungry for [genre], and recent deals (e.g., Orangery–WME) show agencies buy packaged IP. Our IP delivers [unique selling point]."

Slide 3 — What It Is (The Promise)

One sentence synopsis + three bullets for tone, audience, and unique elements.

Fill: "Logline: [one sentence]. Tone: [dark, comedic, intimate]. Unique hooks: [e.g., dual-timeline, interactive chapters, cross-platform ARG]."

Slide 4 — Audience & Traction (Data-first)

Show metrics: monthly readers, paid subscribers, email list size, community engagement, revenue, notable press.

Fill with values and sources: "Readers: [X]; Monthly growth: [Y%]; Engagement: [comments per post / open rate]." Use clear audience metrics and cite provenance.

Slide 5 — Creative Vision & Transmedia Roadmap

Map Year 1–3 across media: short-form, audio, series, games, merch.

Fill: "Year 1: 8-episode audio + enhanced ebook; Year 2: Limited series option; Year 3: licensed tabletop & merch." Use a clear Transmedia Roadmap to show narrative threads and extensions.

Slide 6 — Key Visuals / Clips

Embed 2–3 images or a 30–60s sizzle link. Label assets and usage rights.

Fill: "Sizzle link: [URL]. Use rights: [You may view; do not distribute]." If you need hardware and small-team tips to produce a tight sizzle, see portable kit roundups like this portable AV kits review and portable PA systems for live showcases.

Slide 7 — Business Model & Revenue Streams

List monetisation: direct sales, subscriptions, licensing, merchandising, brand partnerships, ad revenue.

Fill: "Revenue YTD: [£X]. Primary streams: [list]. Projected 3-yr revenue: [£]." Be explicit about merchandising and fulfilment plans.

Slide 8 — Rights & Deal Ask (Be explicit)

This slide is crucial. State exactly what you're offering and what you want back.

Fill: "Offering: [Option on worldwide TV & film rights for 18 months]. Retained: [Print publishing rights, sequels, graphic novels]. Seeking: [Representation and development financing up to £X]." Document everything and include a concise rights binder or links to contracts so an agent can review in minutes.

Slide 9 — Packaging & Talent

Show current attachments or a plan to attach talent — directors, showrunners, actors, game partners.

Fill: "Attached: [Director/Artist]. Target attachments: [A-list director, showrunner with credits]." Packaging sensible attachments and a 60s sizzle often accelerates meetings; hardware and pop-up tips are covered in tiny tech field guides.

Slide 10 — Comparable Deals & Case Studies

List recent comparable deals and outcomes — e.g., the Orangery signing with WME (Jan 2026) and other market transactions.

Fill: "Comparable: [Title] -> [Platform/Studio], revenue: [X], timeline: [Y months]."

Slide 11 — Team & Cap Table

Introduce creators, producers, and advisors. Keep bios short and include key credits.

Fill: "[Name] — Creator (bio). [Name] — Lead artist (credits). Advisors: [Agent/Producer names]."

Slide 12 — The Ask & Next Steps

Close with a direct ask and clear next steps. Include contact details and availability for a meeting.

Fill: "Ask: [Representation / Option / Co-development]. Next steps: [Call in 7 days / Send NDA / Share full manuscript]. Contact: [email]."

Email outreach: Fill-in-the-blanks + cadence

Use short subject lines and lead with traction. Personalise each outreach with one sentence referencing the recipient’s prior deal or focus area.

Subject line options

"[IP Title] — 150k readers; film & TV option available"
"Pitch: [Title] — transmedia roadmap + sizzle"
"For [Agent Name]: packaged IP with proven audience"

Initial email template (copy, paste, customise)

Hi [Name],

I’m [Your Name], creator of [IP Title]. We’ve grown to [metric: e.g., 120K readers and 25K email subscribers], with a proven revenue stream from [sales/Patreon/merch].

Logline: [one sentence].
Why it matters: [single sentence on market fit and recent deals: e.g., Agencies like WME are signing transmedia studios — we’re development-ready].

Assets: one-page summary (attached), 30s sizzle ([link]), full deck ([link]).

Ask: I’m seeking [representation / option + development financing / first-look / packaging partner]. Can we book a 20-minute call next week to discuss?

Thanks for your time — I’ll follow up in a week if I don’t hear back.

Best,
[Name]
[Contact info]

Follow-up cadence (practical)

Day 7: Short, polite follow-up referencing the previous email and adding one new metric or press mention.
Day 14: Share a one-minute update (new attachment or tie-in like a festival selection or interview).
Day 30: Final follow-up with a specific calendar invite proposal. Use a CRM or outreach tool — see guides on how to use CRM tools for cadence and tracking.

Rights & deal terms checklist (must include in your deck)

Agents will ask about rights immediately. Make it easy for them — list your positions upfront.

Ownership proof — registration, ISBN, copyright notices.
Rights available — audio, film/TV, merchandising, gaming, live-action, animation.
Territories & languages — worldwide, specific exclusions, translation rights.
Option length & fee — common: 12–24 months; fee range depends on stage.
Assignment & reversion — clear reversion on failure to develop.
Sequels & derived works — who controls future IP and royalties.
Revenue participation — backend points, merchandising splits, producer credit.

Packaging tips inspired by The Orangery–WME move

The Orangery’s model shows that studios that package IP — artist-ready assets, a transmedia roadmap and early talent attachments — become instantly more attractive to agencies. Practical packaging actions:

Create a 60-second sizzle using motion-comics or AI-assisted animatics (2026 tools dramatically cut costs for sizzles).
Secure one mid-tier talent attachment as a landing magnet — a TV writer or known voice actor can unlock meetings.
Document your rights and contracts in a single rights binder so an agent can review in 15 minutes.

KPIs & metrics agents respond to (and how to present them)

Don't send vague terms like “millions of views.” Be specific and verifiable.

Readers / Downloads — total and monthly active users.
Revenue — monthly recurring revenue (MRR), one-off sales, merch sales.
Engagement — email open rates, comment rates, retention after issue releases.
Conversion — % of readers who buy or subscribe.
Demographics — primary age, region, platform (TikTok, Webtoon, Substack).

Red flags & negotiation warnings

Watch out for these to protect your long-term upside:

Requests for perpetual, exclusive global rights without clear compensation.
Offers that remove your ability to create sequels or derivative works without fair participation.
Unclear reversion clauses — ensure IP returns to you if development stalls.
Packaging deals that promise introductions but demand large equity or transfer of core rights.

2026 trends to cite in your pitch

Use these trends to make your deck feel current and strategic:

Agency studio deals — more agents are signing or partnering with transmedia studios for first-look pipelines.
Platform co-productions — platforms like YouTube are making bespoke content deals with broadcasters and creators; operational playbooks for edge distribution are available in guides on rapid edge content publishing.
AI-accelerated sizzle creation — high-quality animatics and voice demos are cheaper and faster; if you use AI tools, check compliance and developer guidance such as EU AI rules.
Micro-licensing — brands increasingly buy micro-rights for short campaigns, creating new revenue layers.

Actionable checklist before you hit send

Complete the one-page summary and attach it as PDF. (Keep it scannable and link assets to a hosted folder.)
Build the 10–12 slide deck using the template above.
Prepare a 30–60s sizzle reel (AI-assist if needed).
Document rights and create a rights binder (single PDF with contracts, registrations).
Identify 3–5 agents/managers whose recent deals align with your IP and personalise each email.
Plan follow-up cadence and a calendar link to book calls — see tips on how to use CRM tools for tracking outreach.

Case example (how to reference the Orangery–WME move)

When you reference market deals, be factual and brief. Example line to include in your deck or email:

"Recent industry activity (e.g., The Orangery signing with WME in Jan 2026) shows agencies prioritise transmedia-ready IP with clear packaging and rights — we’re offering the same readiness for development and distribution."

That framing positions you as market-aware and development-ready without overselling.

Final practical example: Complete sample pitch (short)

Subject: [Title] — 120k readers; TV & film option ready

Hi [Name],

I’m [Name], creator of [Title]. We have 120k readers, £3.5k MRR and a 45% conversion from free readers to paid episodes.

Logline: [One-sentence]. Our transmedia roadmap includes an 8-episode audio series (Q3 2026) and a pitch-ready TV bible.

Assets: One-page (attached); Deck: [link]; Sizzle: [link].

Ask: Seeking representation and an 18-month option for worldwide TV/film rights. Can we book 20 minutes next Tuesday or Wednesday?

Best,
[Contact]

Key takeaways

Be explicit about rights and asks. Agents want clarity — give it to them.
Pack the deck with verifiable metrics. Numbers beat adjectives.
Package before you pitch. Sizzle + attachments + roadmap = attention; hardware and pop-up tactics for live showcases are covered in tiny-tech and field reviews like tiny tech field guides.
Follow a disciplined outreach cadence. One polite follow-up beats a single hopeful email — manage it with a CRM or tracking sheet.

Next step: use the templates and test two outreach paths

Run two simultaneous outreach strategies: (A) Cold email to 5 targeted agents with the completed deck and one-page summary; (B) Warm intro via a mutual contact to 3 gatekeepers at agencies or platforms. Track open rates, replies and outcomes for two months — iterate your deck after the first round.

Ready to pitch? Use the fill-in-the-blanks templates above, prepare your rights binder, make a 60-second sizzle, and send your first batch this week. If you want hands-on help vetting agents, refining terms or packaging your IP, reply with “Pitch Review” and include your one-pager — we’ll guide you through next steps.

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