Mastering Movie Premises: A Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Menulisfilm is simply film-writting

A movie premise is the central idea or concept upon which a story is built. It's a summary of the main points of the plot, and it's usually just a few sentences long. There are several different formulas you can use to create a movie premise, and in this article, we will explore two of them.

Formula 1: Character + Conflict + Stakes + Setting + Hook

The first formula for creating a movie premise is: character + conflict + stakes + setting + hook. This formula allows you to introduce the main character, describe the conflict they are facing, add the stakes of the story, describe the setting, and end with a hook to capture the attention of the reader.

Here are a few examples of movie premises using this formula:
  1. In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman named Katniss must fight to the death in a televised battle royale in order to save her family from starvation. If she fails, they will all perish. With the help of her fellow tribute Peeta, Katniss fights for survival in "The Hunger Games" (2012)
  2. A struggling writer named Harold Crick begins to hear a narrator describing his every move, causing him to question his own reality. When the narrator announces that Harold is going to die, he sets out to find her and change his fate in "Stranger Than Fiction" (2006)
  3. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toy gang team-up with a group of Sunnyside daycare toys must escape the daycare center and find their way back home before Andy leaves for college or they'll be stuck at the daycare center with violent and destructive toddlers in "Toy Story 3" (2010)

Formula 2: Inciting Incident + Rising Action + Climax + Falling Action + Resolution

The second formula for creating a movie premise is: inciting incident + rising action + climax + falling action + resolution. This formula follows the traditional narrative structure of a story, beginning with the event that sets the plot in motion (the inciting incident), followed by the series of events that build up to the climax (the rising action), the high point of the story (the climax), the events that follow the climax (the falling action), and the resolution of the story.

Here are a few examples of movie premises using this formula:
  1. When a group of friends discover a mysterious board game called Jumanji, they are sucked into the game and must complete a series of challenges in order to escape. Along the way, they face danger and unexpected twists as they race to finish the game and return to the real world in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017).
  2. After a terrible accident involving a time machine, a young inventor named Marty McFly travels back in time and must ensure that his parents fall in love in order to return to the present. Along the way, he encounters a younger version of his parents and must navigate the complications of time travel to set things right in "Back to the Future" (1985) .
  3. Retired CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) uses his skills and resources to track down and rescue his daughter Kim who was kidnapped by a group of human traffickers while on a trip to Paris, he faces off against the kidnappers in a final showdown, deals with the aftermath of his actions in "Taken" (2018).
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Formula 3: Character + Desire (wants and needs) + Conflict

One common formula for crafting a movie premise is the "Character + Desire (wants and needs) + Conflict" formula, which involves introducing the main character, their desires and needs, and the conflict they face. The character is the main protagonist of the story and is typically introduced at the beginning of the film. The character's desires and needs are their goals and motivations, which drive the plot of the story.

The conflict is the obstacle or challenge that the character must overcome in order to achieve their desires and needs. This conflict can come in the form of an external obstacle, such as an enemy or natural disaster, or an internal conflict, such as a personal struggle or moral dilemma.

By combining these three elements, the "Character + Desire (wants and needs) + Conflict" formula creates a compelling and engaging story that keeps the audience invested in the character's journey. Next, we will explore how this formula has been used in successful films.

Here are a few examples of movie premises using this formula:
  1. "Rocky" (1976) - In this classic film, Rocky Balboa (Character) is a small-time boxer who desires (wants and needs) to prove that he is more than just a "bum" and to win the love of Adrian (Conflict).
  2. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) - In this film, Andy Dufresne (Character) is a wrongfully convicted man who desires (wants and needs) to escape from the corrupt Shawshank prison and to start a new life (Conflict).
  3. "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006) - In this film, Chris Gardner (Character) is a struggling salesman who desires (wants and needs) to provide for his son and to create a better life for them (Conflict).
As you can see, these formulas provide a simple and effective way to structure a movie premise. By introducing the main character, describing the conflict they face, adding the stakes of the story, describing the setting, and ending with a hook, you can create a compelling and engaging premise that will draw the reader / audience in and make them want to learn more about your story.

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