317. Plot Twist: The Second Story Hiding Inside Every Great Pitch

“We’re all salespeople at the end of the day.”

Whether you’re pitching a movie, an idea, or yourself, persuasion is about more than the story you’re telling—it’s also about the story your audience sees for themselves. For Deadpool and Zombieland screenwriter Rhett Reese, that means keeping communication concise, compelling, and centered on what your audience needs. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reese joins Matt Abrahams to share lessons from screenwriting that apply far beyond Hollywood. From cutting unnecessary words to crafting pitches that make your audience the protagonist, he explores how storytelling, collaboration, and clarity can make any message more persuasive.

Takeaways:

• Every pitch tells two stories. You’re selling the idea itself, but you’re also showing your audience how saying yes can solve their problem, reduce their risk, and lead to their success.
• Brevity makes your message stronger. Cutting unnecessary words and choosing them carefully helps your ideas land with greater clarity, impact, and memorability.

Activity:

• Tell the second story. Take a pitch you’re currently working on and write one sentence describing the idea you’re selling. Then write a second sentence from your audience’s perspective: “If I say yes, what becomes possible for me?” Use that second story to reshape your pitch around their success, not just your idea.

Printable Expanded Takeaways & Activities

Episode Reference Links:

• Rhett Reese
• Ep.167 Hollywood Lessons For Successful Communication

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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:18) - Make Every Word Count
• (03:09) - How to Pitch an Idea
• (07:38) - Creatively Collaborating
• (10:35) - Creating Space for Feedback
• (12:49) - AI & the Future of Hollywood
• (16:44) - The Final Three Questions
• (23:15) - Conclusion

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