Screenwriting: How to Develop a Concept - article

R.J. Lee — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:16:13 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by R.J. Lee on 3/3/2017 4:16:13 PM

A “concept” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances.” In the Academy Award nominated “Ides of March”, for example, the concept could be stated as: “An idealistic political operative must come to grips with the hypocrisy of the politician he idolizes and the world he inhabits.” From there, the story moves into a number of intriguing sub-plots, but the main concept is still the same; life is a series of tradeoffs, and we are defined by the choices we make.

When developing your concept, you should strive to meet the following criteria:

1. Is your story unique? Almost every story has already been told, but you can tell yours with a unique twist or angle that makes it more appealing.
2. Do you have a likable protagonist? If the hero of your story has the empathy of Ted Bundy and the charisma of Josef Stalin, you are probably barking up the wrong tree.
3. Is your concept easy to summarize? For marketing purposes, you need to be able to summarize your story in no more than three lines.
4. Does the story have mass appeal? Stories that appeal to niche markets are not high concept.
5. Are you writing what you like? If not, no matter how solid the concept seems, turning it into a marketable screenplay will be next to impossible.

The High Concept

In screenplay writing, the phrase “high concept” is often thrown around. There are various definitions, including a lot of the characteristics described in the 5 points above. However, most producers have a very simple definition of high concept; the story can be explained in twenty-five words or less. It is a concept that can be sold from a short pitch because their premise is strong and clear.. For example, this is a possible logline from the Dustin Hoffman hit “Tootsie”: “An unemployed actor disguises himself as a woman to get a role in a soap opera and falls in love with the leading lady.” In twenty-four words, the reader has a clear picture of what happens in the film. That’s high concept.

Finding Your Concept

Here’s a list of five tips to help you find your concept:

1. Make a list of the movies you love and why you love them. What are the concepts behind them? Lost love, mistaken identity, unintended consequences, etc.?
2. Stay current with the news of the day. There might be stories that would make a good movie. (Of course, make sure you fictionalize your plot.)
3. Examine your own life experiences. Can you weave them into a movie concept? This is tricky. Your life might intrigue you but just bore the heck out of most people.
4. Is there a message you would like to convey to the world? Environmental, metaphysical, political?
5. Is there a particular genre you love? Sci-fi, romantic comedy, espionage, western, etc.?

Writing a screenplay is, in essence, telling a story, and every story begins with a concept. Whether you’re out to change the world or make people die laughing, your story is no exception. Concept development is the first step toward success.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Screenwriting: How to Develop a Concept - Article

R.J. Lee — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by R.J. Lee on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

When developing your concept, you should strive to meet the following criteria:

The High Concept

Finding Your Concept

Here’s a list of five tips to help you find your concept:

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction