Unleashing the Unbelievable: How 'Strays' Producer Pitched an R-Rated Dog Movie That Wins Hearts - Exclusive Slideshow

Summary

Strays was pitched to the studio with a slide show, spec trailer, TikTok promotions, and merchandise ideas to secure funding.

The pitch highlighted the achievements of successful films such as Ted, Sausage Party, Twilight, and John Wick, as well as the enduring popularity of dog-centric movies like 101 Dalmatians and Marley & Me. Additionally, it was imperative to showcase the impressive visual effects and unique stylized appearance of the dogs.

Strays was initially presented with a slide show. The R-rated comedy, featuring renowned actors such as Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Brett Gelman, and Will Forte, made its theatrical debut on August 18. The story revolves around Reggie, an abandoned dog (portrayed by Ferrell), who joins a rowdy pack of strays and embarks on a journey involving sex, drugs, and a quest for violent revenge against his owner, Doug (played by Forte).

Variety recently interviewed producer Erik Feig, who shared insights on bringing Strays 2023 to the big screen. During the discussion, Feig outlined the extensive efforts required to pitch the film to the studio and secure funding. These efforts included an engaging slide show presentation, a speculative trailer to showcase the talking dogs, ideas for promoting the film on TikTok, and potential merchandise, such as a controversial "d--k protector." Below is Feig's quote regarding the pitch:

Getting a "yes" is always a challenge, particularly because people tend to rely on pre-branded things. However, when I reflect on the successful projects we approved, like 'John Wick' and 'Twilight', I realize that the riskier endeavors often yield the best results.

Our intention was to prove that this concept is not crazy but rather realistic, and we had a clear plan to make it happen. Additionally, we aimed to demonstrate that this project could have a stylish presentation without requiring a huge budget. Given that our main characters are dogs, it was important to present the story from their perspective. This decision, combined with their lower heights, created an immense and grand atmosphere for the entire narrative.

The Strays Pitch Deck Explained

Feig discussed various aspects of the pitch, highlighting successful movies of a similar genre. He mentioned the impressive box office performance of R-rated comedies like Ted and Sausage Party, as well as risky yet successful films like Twilight and John Wick. Feig also drew attention to the popularity of dog movies by citing the success of titles such as 101 Dalmations and Marley & Me.

Furthermore, the pitch emphasized the significance of the spec trailer and the visual effects expertise of producer Louis Leterrier. This was crucial to assure potential viewers that the characters would not appear overly artificial and deter their interest. The dogs' appearance needed to be stylized enough to convincingly portray raunchy human-like behavior, while still resembling real-life dogs.

It is yet to be determined if Feig's pitch for Strays will lead to its success. This summer has been a mixed bag for R-rated comedies, as Joy Ride failed to replicate the triumph of No Hard Feelings, which earned $86 million globally. However, Feig's breakdown of his pitch provides valuable insight into what studios seek before approving a high-budget comedy.