What Agencies Look For in an IP Pitch Deck: Lessons from The Orangery, WME and Vice

Hook: Why your IP pitch deck is failing before you speak

Creators tell me the same thing: they finish a beautiful pitch deck and still hear crickets from agencies, streamers, and producers. The problem isn’t design — it’s packaging. In 2026, agencies like WME and studio-buyers rebuilding after 2025’s consolidation (see Vice’s studio pivot) expect IP to arrive as a product, not an idea. That means sharp market comps, credible talent attachments, a realistic revenue model, and a compact one-pager/lookbook that sells on first skim.

The new reality in 2026: what changed and why it matters

Late 2025 and early 2026 reinforced two trends that directly affect how agencies evaluate IP:

• Convergence of agencies and studios: talent agencies and transmedia studios (example: The Orangery signing with WME) increasingly package IP end-to-end — from comic and graphic novel origin through global adaptation rights.
• Studios doubling down on finance and strategy: companies like Vice are hiring ex-agency and finance executives to behave like studios with balance sheets — they expect clear monetization paths and defensible projections before taking meetings.

Translate that into practical terms: your deck must show a path to audience, revenue, and scalability — not just a creative brief.

The master checklist: every asset agencies want (and why)

Below is a prioritized, actionable checklist that smart creators and small IP studios use to get meetings and term sheets from agencies like WME and production buyers like Vice Studios.

Core deliverables (must-have)

• One-pager / Lookbook — 1 page, scannable, leads with logline, audience, comps, and the ask.
• Pitch deck (10–15 slides) — core narrative, market comps, distribution strategy, revenue model, team & attachments, visual samples, and a clear ask.
• Market comps matrix — apples-to-apples comparables with performance and rights notes (streaming deals, box office, licensing, merchandising).
• Talent attachments — signed LOIs, option agreements, or credible outreach notes with talent/agents.
• Rights map — what you own, what’s licensed, territorial limits, translation/sub-rights status.
• Revenue scenarios — conservative, base, upside with assumptions (licensing, streaming fees, merchandising, games, foreign sales).
• Visual lookbook / sample pages — high-fidelity mockups: cover, 2–4 internal pages, character sheets, moodboard.
• Sizzle / proof of concept — short video or animated sequence (30–90s) or a narrated motion comic demo.

Nice-to-have (accelerators)

• Data on social traction (TikTok/IG/YouTube short-form clips, follower conversion rates)
• Retail or pre-order data for physical editions or merch
• Licensing term sheet template (sample math for a 3–5 year SVOD deal)
• Case study of prior IP performance (if you or your team have prior wins)
• Localization plan and cost estimates (critical for global buyers)

Slide-by-slide pitch deck blueprint agencies expect

Keep it crisp — agencies scan decks in under two minutes. Below is a proven 11-slide structure that buyers in 2026 use to assess quickly.

1. Cover + Logline: Title, 1-sentence hook, format (graphic novel, series, feature), visual cover.
2. One-liner Audience & Tag: Who is this for? Age, demos, core markets, why they will care now.
3. Problem / Opportunity: Market gap, trend (e.g., graphic-novel-to-streaming surge), why timing matters (cite 2025–26 industry moves).
4. What It Is: Short synopsis (3–4 sentences), tone, comparable IP.
5. Market Comps: 3–5 comparables with metrics (platform, release year, performance, primary revenue lines).
6. Packaging & Talent: Show attachments (photos + names + LOI status) and why they matter commercially.
7. Visuals & Lookbook: Sample pages, moodboard, character designs, a link/QR to sizzle reel.
8. Go-to-Market & Distribution: Target windows (SVOD, FAST, theatrical), rollout timeline, and distribution partners you’ll approach.
9. Revenue Model: 3-year forecast, unit economics, and key assumptions — streaming license range, merch % revenue, adaptation premiums.
10. Rights & Ask: Exactly what you bring to the table, what you’re selling/looking for (option, co-pro, development funding), and the use of proceeds.
11. Team & Track Record: Bios, relevant credits, and contact info for legal/rights person.

How to craft market comps that actually persuade

Most creators list comps like “X meets Y.” Agencies want data-backed comparables. Build a compact comps matrix with these columns:

• Title
• Format (series/feature/documentary)
• Primary platform or distributor
• Release year
• Performance metric (viewing hours, box office, or reported licensing fee)
• Ancillary revenue lines (merch, games, foreign rights)
• Why it matches your IP (audience overlap, tonal match, production budget)

Example: show that a graphic-novel adaptation sold to Streamer A in 2023 for $6–8M and generated a 20% uplift in merch sales — then map why your IP can follow a similar path.

Talent attachments: what counts (and what doesn’t)

In 2026, name attachments are powerful but increasingly expensive. What agencies want:

• Signed LOIs or options with reasonable timelines — a handshake email doesn’t move the needle.
• Agent-backed interest — if a WME/CAA/ICM agent has submitted the name, note that.
• Creative commitments (director/EP attachments) that add production credibility.
• Commercially strategic attachments (a creator or actor with platform-building social reach).

Avoid listing aspirational names without any contact context. Instead, show outreach status: Draft LOI, Option agreed, Agent contacted — with dates.

Revenue model: precise, defensible, and scenario-driven

Buyers now have finance teams; your revenue math must hold up under scrutiny. Present three scenarios — conservative, base, upside — and keep assumptions explicit.

Key revenue lines to include

• Upfront licensing fee (SVOD/AVOD/Linear/FTA)
• Worldwide distribution (territorial pre-sales)
• Physical sales and collector editions
• Merchandising and licensing (apparel, toys, IP collaborations)
• Games & interactive (mobile/web game licensing)
• Ancillary (podcasts, live events, educational licensing)

Presenting the numbers

1. Show topline revenue across 3 years with units (e.g., 100k graphic novel sales at $15 net = $1.5M).
2. List COGS and production spend (first graphic novel print + POD + marketing).
3. Include a simple waterfall showing split to creators, publishers, and investors.
4. Attach sensitivity analysis: what happens if streaming license is 20% lower/higher?

Packaging points that close deals

Packaging isn’t decoration — it’s risk reduction. Agencies and buyers want to see that you’ve reduced three key risks: creative risk, market risk, and execution risk. Here’s how to show that in your pack:

• Creative risk: high-fidelity sample pages, character bibles, and a 60–90s sizzle that proves tone.
• Market risk: comparables, pre-order or social traction, and demographic heatmaps.
• Execution risk: attachments, production plan, timeline, and named vendors (VFX, post, printing).

Lookbook and one-pager: design rules that convert in 30 seconds

Buyers skim. Your one-pager must answer the four core questions at a glance: What is it? Who’s it for? Why now? What do you want?

• Top: logline + KIT: 1-sentence hook, format, key visual.
• Left column: audience + quick comps + 3 bullets of POV.
• Right column: attachments + call-to-action (contact, link to full deck).
• Bottom: quick revenue snapshot (topline projection) and rights map.

Keep the lookbook visual-first: 60% imagery, 40% text. Include captions with context (e.g., sample page: “Issue #1 splash — sets tone, 1,200 pre-orders in Q4 2025”). For pre-orders and collector drops, study micro-sales playbooks that guide limited releases and demand pacing: micro-drops & flash‑sale strategies.

Legal & rights housekeeping every agency will ask about

Do not be surprised by rights questions; prepare these documents:

• Chain-of-title memo (who owns what and when)
• Copyright registrations or proof of deposit
• Option agreements or sample contract language for adaptation
• NDAs and mutual non-disclosure templates (for select meetings)

Sizzle reels, AI demos, and proof-of-concept in 2026

With cheap production tools and AI-assisted animation, a short proof-of-concept is expected for high-profile IP. But use AI responsibly:

• Use AI to iterate visuals quickly but always credit human creative ownership — consider ephemeral workspaces for safe iteration: ephemeral AI workspaces.
• Keep sizzle reels short (30–90s), high-frame quality, and focused on emotion/tone. For low-bandwidth delivery and event-ready assets, portable streaming and POS kits make proof-of-concept screening and onsite demos reliable: portable streaming + POS kits.
• Include captions and time-coded notes for key beats so execs can skim.

Pro tip: an under-60 second sizzle that shows a single emotional arc persuades more than a 5-minute montage.

Putting it together: a realistic production timeline

Agencies evaluate feasibility as much as creativity. Provide a clear 12–18 month roadmap with milestones:

1. Month 0–1: Finalize deck, one-pager, and LOIs.
2. Month 2–3: Produce sizzle & lookbook assets; begin agent outreach.
3. Month 4–6: Secure talent attachments and option deals; start outreach to distributors/streamers.
4. Month 7–12: Negotiate first term sheet, greenlight prep, and pre-production planning.

Common mistakes creators make (and how to fix them)

• Mistake: Too many aspirational wants. Fix: State one clear ask (e.g., $X for a 12-month option + development fee).
• Mistake: No comps or weak comps. Fix: Build a 3–5 comp matrix using real deal data.
• Mistake: Vague attachments. Fix: Get LOIs or agent confirmation; show communication timestamps.
• Mistake: Over-reliance on design. Fix: Make every visual support a business point (traction, tone, audience).

Templates, mockups, and brief kits — what to include in your assets pack

For your downloads/asset page (or when emailing an agency): include these files and label them clearly.

• ONE-PAGER.pdf (single page, 300–600KB)
• PITCH-DECK.pdf (print-friendly, <10MB)
• LOOKBOOK.zip (hi-res sample pages, jpg/png, 1500px min)
• SIZZLE.mp4 (720p–1080p, <50MB for email delivery; host full-res on private link)
• COMPS-MATRIX.xlsx (editable with sources and links)
• LOI-SAMPLES.docx (redacted templates)

Real-world example: What The Orangery + WME signals for creators

The Orangery’s recent alignment with WME (Jan 2026) is a useful case study. Agencies are signing transmedia IP studios because these groups bring packaged rights and measurable IP value from the start. Takeaway for creators: think like a mini-studio. If you can assemble a rights stack (graphic novels, merch, game options) and show a credible path to adaptation, agencies will listen. Consider merch roadshows or live retailing vehicles if physical drops are part of your plan: merch roadshow vehicles.

Why Vice’s studio pivot matters for your pitch

Vice bolstering finance and strategy teams in late 2025–early 2026 signals more buyers looking for scale-ready IP. That means:

• Buyers will run finance models — your numbers must be defensible.
• Buyers prefer IP that can be a content play and a commercial play (e.g., merch, experiences, short-form social extensions).
• Be prepared to discuss production economics, tax incentives, and international pre-sales.

Actionable checklist — what to finish this week

1. Draft a one-pager using the 4-question rule: What? Who? Why now? What do you want?
2. Build a 3-item comps matrix (title, platform, performance, why it matches).
3. Secure at least one LOI/option or agent contact for a key talent.
4. Create a 30–60s sizzle placeholder (even animated boards) and host it privately.
5. Prepare a conservative 3-year revenue scenario with explicit assumptions.

Final notes on tone, brevity, and follow-up

Keep tone confident and factual. When you follow up with agencies, lead with one new piece of data (new LOI, pre-order number, conference meeting). Agencies like WME process many decks — you must give them a reason to re-open yours.

Where to get the templates and mockups

Assets that save time: editable pitch deck templates, one-pager PSDs, lookbook mockups, comps spreadsheet, and LOI/option templates. For creators ready to move fast, prepare a single ZIP labeled: "IP_PITCHKIT_[Title]_v1.zip" and make it easy for agents to forward.

Closing: build for decisions, not compliments

In 2026 the best pitch decks don’t just look good — they reduce risk and make a buy/option decision obvious. Agencies like WME and studios remaking their playbooks (a la Vice) want IP that comes with evidence: market comps, concrete talent attachments, a defensible revenue model, and clean packaging (one-pager + lookbook + sizzle). Use the checklist above as a production roadmap: finish the one-pager, lock one LOI, and publish a tight comps matrix. That pattern — clarity, evidence, deliverables — is what turns meetings into term sheets.

Call to action

Ready to convert your idea into a studio-ready package? Download the free IP Pitch Kit — editable pitch deck, one-pager template, comps matrix, LOI samples, and lookbook mockups — at portofolio.live/assets. If you want feedback, submit your one-pager for a 48-hour review and get an actionable edit list tailored to agency buyers.

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