TWO movie ideas
1. Come up with TWO movie ideas -- as in for TWO screenplays that you'd be interested in writing. You will eventually choose ONE screenplay to live with for the duration of this course. You will distill each idea into a single sentence. We call this a LOGLINE.
A good logline: 1. Must include your PROTAGONIST. 2. Must be under 50 words. 3. Must contain the word "BUT" ("but" signifies conflict).
TRY TO KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Here's an example:
MOVIE IDEA #1
WORKING TITLE: "COLLATERAL"
LOGLINE: A cab driver dreams of starting his own limo company, BUT when a hitman gets into his cab, our hero must figure out how to survive the night.
PROTAGONIST: Max (Cab Driver)
DESIRE: To stop Vincent (the Hitman)
POTENTIAL OBSTACLES: The HITMAN who never fails. THE COPS who think Max is the hitman. THE GANGSTERS who want the hitman dead. MAX’s own timid and hesitant nature.
2.What is the INCITING INCIDENT in your two film ideas? What is the 1stACT BREAK?
Example:
MOVIE TITLE: COLLATERAL
INCITING INCIDENT: Vincent gets into Max’s cab, makes Max an offer 1STACT BREAK: Body drops on Max’s cab; Reveal Vincent is a Hitman
(To discover your inciting incident possibly contemplate what the worst thing that could happen to your particular character would be)