Well, some say imitation is the first step toward true, personal creation, dear Herman.

;]

M.

Hi, Scott - a most timely post.

I've gathered together all my "concept" materials for a serious study session before reframing a story I'm working on.

I recall reading somewhere about an antidote to one of the identifiable weaknesses of "bad" high-concept scripts -- that is, that they tend to provide 1, 2 or 3 "high-concept" scenes and little else of note.

The writer observed that many/most switch comedies fail, but that the wonderful "Tootsie" soared when the writers masterfully extended the high concept to the movie's theme (how a man treats a woman in "today's" society) and then worked that theme diligently via the 6 or 7 subplots.

Each subplot explored a heightened-for-comedy type of male-female relationship, and interacted with and influenced Michael/Dorothy's Protag journey -- which in turn became very funny, yet also very meaningful and touching to us men and women in the audience.

Anyway, I'm trying to follow that guideline as I regroup, but with fewer subplots ;^)