Last week, I was at dinner with an executive who works at one of the three largest studios in Hollywood. I asked him about his favorite spec scripts and if he had any advice for writers who were trying to break in. He took a deep breath and said, "I wish more writers understood how important the concept of their movies is and how much they need to deliver on that promise."It was at that moment I realized we needed to have and article on that statement. I went back through all the scripts I gave notes on in the last year, and I found that almost all of them either had an underdeveloped concept or bailed on that concept at the start of their screenplay. So today, we're going to do a deep dive into concepts and see where we land. Let's get started. What is a Concept in Screenwriting?In screenwriting, the concept refers to the central idea or driving force behind your story.What Makes Up a Good Concept A good concept has all the following elements: Core Premise: The foundational "what if" question that sparks your whole screenplay. For example:What if a group of ordinary people had to escape a deadly dinosaur theme park? (Jurassic Park)What if a shy, bullied teenager with spider-powers became a superhero? (Spider-Man)Theme: The underlying message or exploration your story addresses. This could be a concept like love conquers all, the consequences of greed, or the importance of family.Hook: That unique element that makes your...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 25 April