Pitch Like The Orangery: Query & One-sheet Templates for Selling Graphic Novel IP to Agencies

Beat the silence in your inbox: Package graphic-novel IP like The Orangery and make agencies call back

Writer’s block, scattered materials, and half-baked pitches are the three killers of transmedia deals. If you’re a creator who wants a shot at agency representation or an adaptation—especially in 2026’s IP-hungry market—you need a lean, transmedia-ready package: a focused query, a one-sheet that sings, and a rights map buyers can act on. This guide gives fill-in templates and blueprints modeled on how The Orangery packaged graphic-novel IP when it signed with WME in early 2026—tailored for creators targeting agencies, producers, and cross-platform partners.

The evolution: Why packaging matters in 2026

By late 2025 and into 2026, the entertainment industry doubled down on bankable, multi-platform intellectual property. Agencies like WME prioritized transmedia-ready IP—projects that arrive with modular story bibles, audience proof, and clear monetization pathways. The public signing of The Orangery with WME signaled that agencies want packaged IP, not just great comics: they want materials that translate across TV, film, games, audio and merchandising.

That shift means creators must move beyond a beautiful comic to a buyer-ready blueprint. The advantage: the same package increases your negotiating leverage, speeds option/deal timelines, and opens co-development opportunities. Below are ready-to-use templates and advanced strategies to help you pitch like festival-minded teams—without an agency retainer.

What “packaged” means for a graphic novel (quick checklist)

• Logline & comps primed for industry shorthand
• One-sheet with visuals, tone, and ask on a single page
• Transmedia rights matrix defining which rights are available
• Series bible (characters, arcs, world rules)
• Sample pages or proof-of-concept art
• Business case (audience data, revenue paths)
• Clear chain-of-title and basic legal agreements

Blueprint: How The Orangery-style packages capture agency attention

The Orangery’s reported strategy—signing a transmedia IP studio with clear rights and standout titles—teaches a few reproducible lessons: package with an eye for cross-platform storytelling, show modularity, and present a business-ready ask. The next sections give tangible, copy/paste-ready templates based on that approach.

Logline formula (use this to start everything)

Follow this simple structure: Protagonist + catalyst + stakes + tonal comparator. Example formula: "When [inciting event], [hero] must [goal], or else [stakes] — think [comp 1] meets [comp 2] in [tone]." Keep it under 30 words.

Query letter template (email-ready)

Subject lines matter. Use one of these: Query: [Title] — Graphic Novel / IP for TV/Film or Transmedia IP: [Title] — Graphic Novel + Rights. Then paste the template and replace bracketed fields.

Query Template (copy & paste)

Subject: Query: [TITLE] — Graphic Novel / Transmedia IP

Dear [Agent/Executive Name],

I’m reaching out with [TITLE], a [genre] graphic novel (completed / in progress, X pages/volumes) that follows [logline — one sentence]. The project has [highlight: sales numbers, awards, social proof, notable collaborators].

Why this fits your roster: [1-2 lines that name a recent WME or agency client/comparable, or a trend—e.g., "fits the agency’s focus on sci-fi IP with strong cinematic potential"].

Included: one-page one-sheet, series bible summary (3-page), 6 sample pages (PDF), and a rights matrix outlining availability for TV, film, audio, games and merchandising.

I’m seeking representation / optioning / introductions to development executives with an ask of [clear request—e.g., 6-12 month option, or package/development meeting]. Thanks for your time; I’d be happy to send the full bible or set up a 20-minute call.

Best,

[Name] — Creator / [Role]

[Website] • [Email] • [Phone] • [Link to sample pages]

Quick follow-up cadence

• Wait 10–14 business days
• Send a one-sentence follow-up + one new datapoint (e.g., new review, streamer interest, festival selection)
• If no reply after 21 days, send a final polite note offering a short call

The one-sheet: One page, agency-ready

Think of the one-sheet as your IP’s elevator ride: it must be scannable, visual, and show both story and business. Use the sections below in this exact order.

One-sheet template (sections)

1. Header: Title, tagline (one line), genre, page count
2. Logline: 1 sentence
3. Short Synopsis: 3–4 sentences (setup, conflict, stakes)
4. Tone & Comps: 2 comps + adjectives ("Dark, playful, pulpy; think X meets Y")
5. Key Characters: 3 bullets (Name — one-line description + arc)
6. Transmedia Potential: Short bullets for TV, Film, Game, Audio, Merch
7. Audience + Traction: Key metrics, fans, sales, socials
8. Rights & Ask: Which rights are available and the specific ask (representation/option/packaging)
9. Visuals: 1 cover image + 2 inside art thumbnails and credits
10. Contact: Creator + agent (if any) + attachments list

One-sheet sample (fictionalized)

Header: TRAVELERS OF MARS — Tagline: "The planet took their maps. They took the future." — Sci-fi / 128 pages

Logline: When a cartographer wakes on a terraformed Mars with missing memories, she races to map a conspiracy that could return humanity to Earth—or end it forever.

Tone & Comps: "Think BRAVE NEW WORLD meets THE EXPANSE with the emotional core of SAGA."

Transmedia Potential: Serialized TV (5-8 season arcs), limited film adaptation (origin feature), audio drama (character-focused episodes), AAA or indie game adaptation (exploration/choice-driven), collectible merch (maps, print editions).

Rights & Ask: Film/TV/audio/gaming rights available. Seeking representation and development introductions. Option period: 12 months preferred.

Transmedia rights matrix (fill-in blueprint)

Buyers want to know, at a glance, what you control and what’s negotiable. Use this simple matrix in your one-sheet or follow-up materials.

• Print Publishing: Owned / Exclusive until [date]
• Television: Available (first negotiation rights retained) / Optionable
• Film: Available / Co-development preferred
• Streaming / SVOD: Non-exclusive / Negotiable
• Audio (podcast/audiobook): Available
• Games: Negotiable—prefer license/sub-license
• Merch & Licensing: Available—seeking brand partnerships
• Live / Stage: Available

Series bible & adaptation pitch (one-page treatment template)

Agents and development execs want to see adaptation scaffolding. Keep a 1–3 page treatment that covers:

1. Series Logline (one line)
2. Premise (three paragraphs: set-up, main conflict, stakes)
3. Season 1 Arc (5–7 bullets: key beats and cliff)
4. Episode Guide (Pilot + 4 episode summaries, 1–2 lines each)
5. Main Characters (1–2 paragraphs each: motivation, arc, casting notes)
6. Visual & Tone Notes (specific directors, shows or films as visual comps)
7. Showrunner / Creative Vision (what you bring as creator; collaborators attached)

Pilot hook example (one line)

"Pilot: A cartographer wakes in a hospital without a name, a marked map in her hand, and a wanted poster with her own face—she has 48 hours to decode it or be deported to a mining colony."

Visual pitch deck blueprint (10 slides)

1. Slide 1: Title + Tagline + Hero Art
2. Slide 2: One-sentence Logline + Tone comps
3. Slide 3: Short Synopsis (3 bullets)
4. Slide 4: Characters (photo-casting, one-liners)
5. Slide 5: Season 1 arc + beats
6. Slide 6: Transmedia opportunities (how it becomes TV, game, merch)
7. Slide 7: Audience + traction (metrics, socials, sales)
8. Slide 8: Rights matrix + ask
9. Slide 9: Production plan & budget range (ballpark for buyers)
10. Slide 10: Contact + attachments

Keep slides visually strong: hero image, palette swatches, and one sample comic page. Agencies review dozens of decks—clarity beats fancy animation.

Business case: What buyers want in 2026

In 2026, buyers expect both story and revenue thinking. Your one-sheet should include:

• Audience signals: Kickstarter numbers, newsletter open rates, social engagement, webcomic monthly active readers — if you need help building that list, start with a newsletter checklist for Compose.page.
• Comparable deals: Naming recent transmedia deals (e.g., a comic-to-TV adaptation) helps—use public news like The Orangery/WME signing to show market appetite
• Monetization paths: Print & digital sales, adaptations, licensing, merch, audio, experiential
• Timeline & budget ranges: Realistic windows (option to pilot in 12–24 months; film development 18–36 months)

Buyers prefer creators who articulate where the money can come from—not just why the story matters.

Legal checklist & chain-of-title

Do not skip this. Agents and agencies will ask for basic legal clarity before conversations move forward.

• Signed creator agreements with writers, artists, and colorists
• Copyright registration (where applicable) or proof of authorship
• Contributor releases for any borrowed materials
• Optional: DMCA takedown history if you adapted public content
• Note on AI: include clauses on training data and AI use—buyers in 2026 are asking for explicit rights around LLM/AI-generated content; use prompt templates to avoid generic AI output when you draft personalized outreach.

Submit strategy: Where and how to target agencies like WME

Agencies receive many cold submissions. Your best path is to:

1. Warm introductions — use mutual contacts from festivals, comic-cons, or prior collaborators
2. Festival circuit and markets — SXSW, Angoulême, and MIPCOM remain key for transmedia discovery; see how teams use short clips to drive discovery in festival programming.
3. Data-led outreach — lead with traction metrics in subject lines
4. Pitch anthologies & incubators — participate in transmedia incubators (many agencies track these)

If you must cold-email, be surgical: name a specific agency exec’s recent win and explain, in one sentence, why your IP is a fit.

Advanced strategies for 2026 (leverage tech and data)

• AI-assisted personalization: Use AI to generate tailored subject lines and 1-line hooks for each target exec—but keep your voice intact and verify facts. For better prompts and safer output, see prompt templates that prevent AI slop.
• Sizzle using short-form video: 60–90s animated or live-action sizzle reels created with low-cost production or AI tools can convey tone quickly; short clips are powerful at festivals and online — learn from features on how teams use short clips for festival discovery.
• Micro-metrics: Agencies like to see conversion rates—newsletter signups per post, Patreon churn, or sample page read-through rates
• Transmedia MVPs: Test a gameable snippet (Twine/choices), a 6-episode audio pilot on platforms like Spotify/Anchor, or limited merch drops to prove demand—see guides on designing pop-up merch that sells and micro-event retail strategies for makers.
• Data privacy & AI rights: In 2026 buyers care about whether your content is free from AI training entanglements. Have a clear statement if you used generative tools.

Templates: Copy-ready snippets

Email subject lines

• Query: [Title] — Graphic Novel & Transmedia IP
• Transmedia IP (TV/Film/Game) — [Title] — One-sheet attached
• Representation/Option Request: [Title] — [Genre] Graphic Novel

30-word logline formula

"[Protagonist] must [goal] after [inciting incident], racing against [stakes] — a [tone] tale in the vein of [comp A] meets [comp B]."

Short follow-up note (copy/paste)

Hi [Name], just checking in on the one-sheet I sent for [Title]. Since I reached out, we added [new traction point]. Happy to send the full bible if you’d like to see it. Best, [You]

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Too much lore, too little sell: Keep the one-sheet concise. Put deep lore in the bible.
• Missing rights clarity: State what you own. Don’t leave ambiguity about creator shares or outstanding agreements.
• No visuals: Even black-and-white thumbnails help. Visuals sell faster than adjectives.
• Over-reliance on AI artifacts: Disclose AI use and retain original assets to avoid legal friction.

Case study (what creators can learn from The Orangery + WME)

The Orangery’s signing with WME in January 2026 highlighted demand for consolidated, transmedia-ready IP. Lessons creators should act on:

• Consolidate rights: Buyers prefer a clear rights holder with an efficient chain-of-title. For thinking about deal transparency and agency relationships, see Principal Media: How Agencies and Brands Can Make Opaque Media Deals More Transparent.
• Show cross-platform thinking: Don’t just pitch a comic—map how it becomes TV, film, audio, games, and merch.
• Prepare a business ask: Agencies are middlemen; they want to know the deal structure you expect (option length, exclusivity, co-pro preferences).
• Invest in modular assets: A small, professional set of assets (one-sheet + 6 sample pages + rights matrix + 3-slide sizzle) dramatically improves response rates; consider pop-up and micro-tour strategies like small bookshop pop-ups or micro‑touring ideas in micro‑touring.

Final checklist before you hit send

1. One-sheet attached and under one page
2. Short, tailored query email—no longer than 6 short paragraphs
3. Rights matrix included and easy to read
4. Legal basics in order (creator agreements, copyright proof)
5. 1–2 visual assets attached (cover + sample page)

Call to action

If you liked these blueprints, grab the full Pitch Like The Orangery template pack: a downloadable one-sheet PDF, query email text files, a 10-slide deck template, and a fillable rights matrix—ready to personalize and send. Join our creator community at wordplay.pro/templates for feedback loops, sample reviews, and weekly pitch clinics that help your IP move from page to screen.

Pack your story. Define your rights. Pitch with confidence.

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