The Movie Pitch Icebreaker

Teams invent and pitch a fictional movie (title, plot, characters, tagline) under time pressure—short, fun, and highly creative.

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Scenario: hybrid
Group Size: medium
Duration: standard
creative
storytelling
improv
fun
collaboration

Introduction

Participants form small groups (or work solo) to create and pitch a fictional movie: title, plot summary, key characters, tagline, even a cast list. They deliver a short pitch to the 'investors' (the whole group). The activity uses humor and imagination to spark creativity and collaboration.

Why This Works as an Icebreaker

  • Boosts improvisation and story-making skills
  • Encourages cross-functional collaboration
  • Breaks the ice with a playful, humorous vibe
  • Gets everyone involved through show-and-tell
  • Scales easily to remote or in-person settings

When to Use This Game

Ideal Contexts

  • Creative team meetings
  • Training workshops
  • Design brainstorms
  • Virtual team-building

Group Size

Min: 4 | Ideal: 6-15 | Max: 30

Requirements

Time Required

  • Per person: ~2-4 min (depends on team size)
  • Total: 15-25 min
  • Prep time: ~5 min

Setup

In person: prepare prompt cards, table groupings, and a visible timer. Remote: use breakout rooms and a shared board/doc; share prompts via chat or screen.

Materials

  • Pre-made prompt cards (genre/style/keywords)
  • Timer or countdown tool
  • Paper + pens (in-person) or a shared doc/whiteboard (remote)

How to Play

1.

Explain rules and form groups

2 min

State the goal: each group/person creates a movie pitch and presents it. Cover timing, voting/scoring, and prompt rules.

  • TipStress 'creativity over perfection' to lower pressure
2.

Distribute prompts and brainstorm

5-7 min

Each group draws a prompt (e.g., 'Sci-fi + retro style + office showdown') and quickly outlines title, plot, characters, and tagline.

  • TipCapture keywords, not full scripts
3.

Prepare the pitch

3-5 min

Choose a presenter and decide how to deliver it (1–2 min talk and/or a short Q&A).

  • TipRemote: simple slides or a shared board for title and key points
4.

Present and vote

3-5 min

Groups present to everyone; then vote for 'Most Creative' / 'Funniest' / 'Most Watchable' using hands, chat, or a polling tool.

  • TipKeep pitches short and lively; you can score on multiple categories
5.

Wrap and connect to theme

2 min

Facilitator connects the exercise to the meeting theme: like real projects, this required creativity, collaboration, and quick decisions.

  • TipAsk: 'If our current project were a movie, what would its title be?' to extend the energy

Outcomes & Benefits

Key Benefits

  • A relaxed, energizing opener that sparks interaction
  • Insight into teammates’ thinking styles, humor, and collaboration
  • Practice with fast decision-making, expression, and visual storytelling

Facilitator Insights

  • Notice which groups collaborate fluidly, who contributes most/least, and who may need more facilitation next time

Strategies & Tips

Random prompt generator
Draw cards or use an online generator to give each group unique prompts for novelty and fairness.
Accelerated countdown challenge
Shorten brainstorming time (e.g., 3 minutes) to add urgency and energy.
Interactive online voting
Use chat reactions or polling (e.g., Slido) to pick the most creative pitch in virtual sessions.

General Tips

  • Avoid pressure to be 'perfectly creative'; frame it as playful experimentation
  • Offer helpful prompts but avoid constraining ideas

Facilitation Tips

Moderation

  • Keep tone upbeat; make the timer visible; balance time across groups

Inclusion & Safety

  • Creativity has no 'right answer'; avoid critique; allow alternatives like a quick verbal summary if someone prefers not to present

Virtual/Remote Adaptation

  • Use breakout rooms with shared slides/boards; share prompts via chat; enable polling for voting

Debrief & Reflection

Discussion Questions

  • Which idea resonated most within your group and why?
  • What was the most fun or challenging part of the collaboration?
  • How could this 'rapid pitch' approach help our day-to-day work?

Wrap-Up Tips

  • This playful, structured 'movie pitch' pulls teams closer through laughter and shared ideas, laying a foundation for aligned thinking and quick iteration. Consider: if our project were a movie, what would its title be?