ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO BE ORIGINAL IN YOUR STORY!
Scott McConnell
Story consultant and former producer helping screenwriters and producers to develop resonant scripts. Book a Story Consult now. Screenwriter.
If you want to produce a story attractive to actors, distributors and audiences, a fundamental way is to develop at least one original element in the concept of the story. Following are 11 ways you can be original in your story concept, with film examples:
*Take old characters and put them in a new arena. (Star Trek and Star Wars are westerns in space.)
*Mash genres. (Hellboy fuses demons and Nazis/war.)
*Introduce a new theme. (The Fountainhead and egoism.)
*Dramatize a new problem that has never been depicted before on the screen. (Jurassic Park and its unleased cloned dinosaurs.)
*Develop a new twist on an old conflict. (Indecent Proposal, where a woman is offered money for sex from a good man whom she can love.) ?
*Reverse a good but now cliched conflict/relationship. (Without a Clue reverses the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Watson.)
*Find a new location/world. (Fantastic Voyage, whose key location is inside the human body.)
*Use a new type of character, such as a geneticist or time traveller. (The Time Machine.)
*Play a new danger/problem. (The Naked Jungle, The Poseidon Adventure.) ??
*Introduce a new villain. (SMERSH, Darth Vader.)
*Adapt an event from history or current affairs not shown before. (The tragedy of the Yazidi women, the invasion of Ukraine.)
Writing Takeaway
When developing your story always ask:?What is one new element never seen before?
If that is too broad ask each of the above ways to be original as questions of your story idea and let you subconscious pop!
What did I leave out of my list of ways to be original in your story concept? Comments welcome below.
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Former producer Scott McConnell helps his clients develop their story concepts.
“Scott McConnell is an excellent Script Editor.” Snorri Tórisson, CEO Pegasus Pictures
About Scott McConnell & His Story Services
Scott McConnell started in the film and TV business in Los Angeles performing script analysis for Samuel Goldwyn, Sundance, Hallmark, Nu Image, Roger Corman, among others. He ended his producing work in Los Angeles as a showrunner. Scott is now a writer and story consultant, lecturer, and mentor.?He supports writers, producers, and directors, as well as production and publishing companies, to develop and improve all forms of stories, but especially scripts and novels. Besides developing and editing individual stories, Scott offers a Mentorship Program, where he supports creatives to write a story from concept to first draft, while teaching them a writing process of all the key stages of crafting a story. To discuss your story or screenwriting class needs write to Scott at?[email protected]
Book a Consultation with Scott McConnell
To receive expert one-on-one support regarding your story idea, script, or novel or for a specific writing issue book an Internet or email consultation with Scott now via this email address: [email protected]?
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The Story Guy: Ideas to Improve Your Stories
Business Owner at AWL Media Services
2 年Thanks for sharing, Scott. Great advice... and examples. ????
In a small studio of tiny whimsical worlds, I craft stop-motion Froggie Films with felted characters and miniature sets, while spinning beguiling bent-genre tales that unveil the far corners of humanity.
2 年I love this idea! Thanks for the new perspective!
Author & Screenwriter
2 年Excellent ??