So I got this idea for a movie. A journeyman (re: average) major league baseball player (Ed Brock) gets on a hot streak and subsequently announces to the media that the streak is the result of his selling his soul to the devil (thereby becoming known as "Faust" Eddy Brock). Theres a few other wrinkles involved (an opposing star player who loses his skills as part of the deal, a city going wild for the man who was willing to sell his soul for their pennant hopes, religious nuts, ect). Its a solid idea. I pitch it to my wife. She says, "good scenario but whats the story"? I says "huh"? She says "whats the moral? Why would I watch it?" I says, "cause your my wife". Chuckles ensue.
Its true though. Too often I got a good scenario but a story it is not so much. Will have to think this one through. It's times like these I wish I had a good collaborator.
You need an additional high concept. Read this article by Terry Rossio. He co-wrote Pirates of the Caribbean: they're pirates hunting treasure stealers AND they're skeletons at night.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp52.The.Second.Concept.html
There's even an example about a woman wanting eternal youth.
You could always do lots and spiffy special effects, and make it in 3D, hire the world's most expensive star to act in it (even if they're clearly too old for the part) and promote the SH*T out of it until the media go "the.biz" crazy...
ReplyDeleteWho needs a story?
:)
I often dislike stories with morals (well, depending on how you define "moral"), but think good stories tend to have souls. I suspect you have something you're getting at with this story, whether or not that something is tangible to you at the moment. (One can try to interpret his own story, as he would attempt to interpret his own dream.) That said, some great stories are just amazing and wild, and wonderfully free from any kind of agenda or obligations.
ReplyDelete