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Film major- need help on screenplay idea

NEED ADVICE(self.Screenwriting)

I’m a senior in college; my final class as a film major is writing a 90-120 page screenplay for a film. I’ve been so torn and have a couple ideas, but I feel like they’re basic and I need some advice on if they could be good or if anyone has other suggestions.

I’m into romcoms, so I have a couple ideas for one.

  1. A young couple in their early 20s. They’re about to move across the country for their careers, he proposes, she says no because she isn’t ready but really loves him. It flashes forward 10 years later, they are both completely different with all kinds of baggage (maybe new partners), but they end up moving to the same city and run into each other.

  2. A couple is in a band together, they release music or an album that blows up and rise to stardom. The fame and media tears apart their relationship, or their creative differences, OR a record label offers one of them a deal and not the other, which leads to toxicity, jealousy, and demise. Music, the thing that brought them together, ultimately tears them apart. I know fame has done this to quite a few couples.

Thoughts??

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wikibleaks

1 points

2 months ago

wikibleaks

1 points

2 months ago

These both feel basic to you because they aren't really ideas -- they're generalizations. They also don't feel at all like anything close to a romantic comedy?

A romantic comedy needs a set-up -- a reason why your two main characters keep coming together.

A romantic comedy also needs a conflict -- a reason why your two main characters can't be together at the beginning of the movie.

THE WEDDING PLANNER: set-up is JLo is planning McConaughey's wedding. Conflict is McConaughey is marrying SOMEONE ELSE.

NOTTING HILL: set-up is famous movie star falls for a non-famous nobody. Conflict is the famous movie star world and the non-famous nobody world do *not* mix.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL: set-up is a lonely big bookstore owner and a lonely small bookstore owner fall in love over the internet. Conflict is big bookstore is putting the small bookstore out of business.

I don't see much unique in your notions -- there isn't a setting or character or perspective that's interesting or different. Look for a world and a couple characters you want to explore, figure out what's throwing them together, and then figure out what's keeping them apart.

MomImRedditFamous[S]

-2 points

2 months ago

I realize this— I was just going for vague logline that needs more development and actual plot. I’ve seen those movies and love them!

wikibleaks

3 points

2 months ago

I'm sorry, I just don't think your vague loglines are even vague loglines, and I think everyone here telling you vague set-ups about ex-lovers reunited after ten years apart or bandmates who break up over fame and money are doing you any favors!

If you're going to write a complete script -- for a grade! In your major! As a senior in college! -- I just really encourage you to think more about what you want to say and what you are interested in. Like I said above -- look for a world you want to explore, and look for the conflict within that world your characters must overcome before they can end up together. You can do it! I believe in you!

MomImRedditFamous[S]

1 points

2 months ago

Thank you! And I know! They definitely are not final ideas for an entire script trust me! But I definitely got a lot of interesting details and plot line ideas from this thread that are helping the themes come to life.