Recently, I talked about an easy way to "greenlight" your own movie, but I left you hanging when it comes to the actual movie concept itself. There are dozens, if not hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of books, courses, podcasts, webinars etc. on the "art" of screenwriting. Many of these are quite valuable (Robert McKee's Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
is often bandied about as the best) and/or very expensive (Screenwritingu.com's intensive Pro Series will set you back a few Benjamins or more).
So I am introducing my own Instant* Screenplay formula - a way to create a structure for a feature film that you could make yourself.
(*Results may vary)
Step One: What are you an EXPERT on? Everybody has some kind of hobby or occupation that they know a lot about. Doctors have gone to medical school of course, but even a lazy slob has a lot of knowledge that the average person doesn't about lounging around. People watch movies to enter an unfamiliar world, in which the filmmaker is the guide; when we watch, we also LEARN a little bit about something we didn't know before. This will be your overall CONCEPT. (I.e. "I am an expert knitter, so this movie will be about the world of knitting."
Step Two: YOU are the main character. Let's leave the fantasy world imagining to M. Night Shamalamadingdong. Who are you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Try and be honest with yourself. Our favorite characters are usually flawed human beings, maybe with a bitter secret - not these perfect "supermen". Remember that word: honesty.
Step Three: Ask yourself "What IF". That is what every movie boils down to. "What if..?" "What if a poor Italian immigrant came to America and got involved in a life of crime?" (The Godfather) "What if a giant shark terrorized a small tourist town?" (Jaws) "What if I had a $150 million dollar budget and I wanted to throw it in the garbage?" (Inception) You get the idea.
Step Four: What does your character (you) WANT or NEED? Most of the time, your character must be involved in some kind of quest or action. This part of the idea may be generated by the "What if?" "What if the world were ending tomorrow? I would want/need to see my mother one last time."
Now the idea should start taking shape in your head. Keep thinking about it, toss it around in your mind as you lay in bed. Keep a notebook or use a voice memo to record any ideas you generate. Repeat steps one through three until it is crystal clear.
Step Five: Put in a surprise twist. Nobody likes a movie that they can see the ending coming a mile away. Rarely is a movie interesting in which everybody gets what they wants and everything is sunny and beautiful. At some point - usually near the film's climax - something goes awry that both the main character and the audience should not see coming. Part of the success of Rocky was that [SPOILER ALERT] he DIDN'T win the fight (I'm talking Rocky I here, people.) People like being caught off guard - it will affect them emotionally.
Step Six: The main character must CHANGE. A screenplay is a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. If nothing happens to the hero, then what's the point? We are watching this movie because it is a defining moment in this character's life that forever affects them. A simple way to do this is have the character start out one way (say "greedy") and end up the opposite ("a philanthropist.") That is the story of A Christmas Carol, in a nutshell.
Step Seven: RAISE the stakes. So now you have your concept, character, story, etc. Now bump it up to the next level. If something is not a LIFE OR DEATH situation (literally or figuratively,) again, what's the point? We watch movies to get our heart racing, to live out the story being played in front of our eyes. If it doesn't matter whether the character succeeds or fails in their goal, then something is wrong. PUMP IT UP!!
So there you have it! Seven simple* steps. That's how I came up with the idea for The Great Intervention. But yours doesn't have to be a comedy. It could be drama, romance, even action.
And if you are indeed successful, you owe me 10% of the film's gross.
is often bandied about as the best) and/or very expensive (Screenwritingu.com's intensive Pro Series will set you back a few Benjamins or more).
So I am introducing my own Instant* Screenplay formula - a way to create a structure for a feature film that you could make yourself.
(*Results may vary)
Step One: What are you an EXPERT on? Everybody has some kind of hobby or occupation that they know a lot about. Doctors have gone to medical school of course, but even a lazy slob has a lot of knowledge that the average person doesn't about lounging around. People watch movies to enter an unfamiliar world, in which the filmmaker is the guide; when we watch, we also LEARN a little bit about something we didn't know before. This will be your overall CONCEPT. (I.e. "I am an expert knitter, so this movie will be about the world of knitting."
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| This is what came up when I Googled "lazy slob" |
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| Who ARE You? |
Step Three: Ask yourself "What IF". That is what every movie boils down to. "What if..?" "What if a poor Italian immigrant came to America and got involved in a life of crime?" (The Godfather) "What if a giant shark terrorized a small tourist town?" (Jaws) "What if I had a $150 million dollar budget and I wanted to throw it in the garbage?" (Inception) You get the idea.
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| I Hate When That Happens! |
Step Four: What does your character (you) WANT or NEED? Most of the time, your character must be involved in some kind of quest or action. This part of the idea may be generated by the "What if?" "What if the world were ending tomorrow? I would want/need to see my mother one last time."
Now the idea should start taking shape in your head. Keep thinking about it, toss it around in your mind as you lay in bed. Keep a notebook or use a voice memo to record any ideas you generate. Repeat steps one through three until it is crystal clear.
Step Five: Put in a surprise twist. Nobody likes a movie that they can see the ending coming a mile away. Rarely is a movie interesting in which everybody gets what they wants and everything is sunny and beautiful. At some point - usually near the film's climax - something goes awry that both the main character and the audience should not see coming. Part of the success of Rocky was that [SPOILER ALERT] he DIDN'T win the fight (I'm talking Rocky I here, people.) People like being caught off guard - it will affect them emotionally.
Step Six: The main character must CHANGE. A screenplay is a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. If nothing happens to the hero, then what's the point? We are watching this movie because it is a defining moment in this character's life that forever affects them. A simple way to do this is have the character start out one way (say "greedy") and end up the opposite ("a philanthropist.") That is the story of A Christmas Carol, in a nutshell.
Step Seven: RAISE the stakes. So now you have your concept, character, story, etc. Now bump it up to the next level. If something is not a LIFE OR DEATH situation (literally or figuratively,) again, what's the point? We watch movies to get our heart racing, to live out the story being played in front of our eyes. If it doesn't matter whether the character succeeds or fails in their goal, then something is wrong. PUMP IT UP!!
So there you have it! Seven simple* steps. That's how I came up with the idea for The Great Intervention. But yours doesn't have to be a comedy. It could be drama, romance, even action.
And if you are indeed successful, you owe me 10% of the film's gross.
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