Screenwriting : What makes a good idea for your script? by Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"

So true and something I wish I would have acknowledged earlier in my writing. Some of my scripts fall into that 90%.

Shelley: We've all committed to a bad idea at one time or another. But the worst thing, is to attempt to rework someone else's bad idea.

Good article....thanks Phillip

Owen: you'd be surprised how many well written scripts I read that go nowhere. But I respect you're POV.

90% is high. It's closer to 65% that fail on concept alone.

Some good points in there, enjoyable read :)

I think a bad idea for a screenplay is one where you don't see the whole movie in your head and therefore stall. Good read!

Great article. I can see both sides on this issue. Def food for thought for ongoing and future scripts. ThanksPhillip!

I'd have to agree that 90% failing on concept is a miscalculation (or a bad choice of words). Most scripts start with good if not great premise, but fail in execution of the premise.

great article, Phillip, thanks!

@Shari and David: Thanks kind folk!

Great read, thanks for sharing

John: You bet and thanks for connecting!

Horrible article. An idea does not necessarily work best when it's :"big" plenty of little ideas are great ideas. Little Miss Sunshine isn't a big idea, nor is The Straight Story and they were both great films IMO. Also the Rover which he criticizes was a good film. Carson Reeves (the author of the scriptshadow blog) is a slave of convention and as such only likes films that follow s his particular ideas of the rules. He doesn't like anything new or daring. He said The Master was a bad script while Mordecai was nearly genius. I read Frank or Frances by Charlie Kaufman one of the best unproduced scripts in years and he said it was one of the worst scripts he ever read. He also predicted that Everything Must Go would be a blockbuster. I never like his reviews they're full of "Hollywood conventions good, daring ideas bad" Sorry this isn't a knock at you, but his paint by numbers advice and reviews. I also understand a lot of producers want his blog off the net because of his posting spoilers and leaking scripts.

@Joseph, yep. Not a fan of 'the shadow.'

Joseph: When I post these articles, it's with the intention of stimulating spirited discussion. I'm glad you had a strong opinion about this one.

Thanks for connecting Phillip, always good to have multiple opinions on these topics...

John: I look forward to exchanging more thoughts about writing.

Anytime

I´m sorry Phillip, but I found it somehow confusing

Leotien: Feel free to post what you found confusing or PM if you like; and I'll certainly try to shed light on any questions you may have.

Dear Phillip, you wrote "When I post these articles, it's with the intention of stimulating spirited discussion." Yes you did, that's why I so love and respect you. Thank you.

Sylvia: Thanks and right back at you. You're are such at talented and kind person... a pleasure to know you.

What I meant to say is that first of all I fail to see the point why In Cold Snap there´s no story problem because the log line indicates that these teens are not only bored but also jobless. So, my logical thought is that they have clearly a money problem. And why do you need to use specifically irony in The Mind reader? In general I think that a good or a bad idea is a very personal matter, beside the one´s which are clearly unfocussed of course.

FFR: You are welcome and thanks for your post.

Leotien: Let's begin by looking at the what the author said: 1) the logline for Cold Snap: Cold Snap (drama/thriller) – During Christmas season – three young, bored and jobless teens hatch a plan to rob a family man’s traditional takeaway shop. 2) Here is the author's critique of that logline: Cold Snap (drama/thriller) – The problem with Cold Snap as an idea is that there’s no story problem. Our main characters decide to do something because they’re “bored.” Boredom is rarely a good starting point for a story. You want a character who’s in peril, who’s in trouble. That way their motivation is strong. They must act to solve a problem. The author clearly states the a) boredom is not a good motivation for your characters. b) that the logline doesn't identify any stakes or conflict. So in other words, he's looking for something more like this: "When three young jobless teens try to rob a takeaway shop to pay their overdue rent, they're surrounded by police and decide to take hostages to negotiate their escape." The second logline now makes the plot similar to "Dog Day Afternoon", where the lead character's motivation is to get money to pay for his friend's sex change operation and then has to take hostages. Hope that clears up your question.