Hey guys. Do you reckon I could make this work as a film:
A film about a man who has totally lost the will to live. He lives alone in his apartment, and has virtually lost all contact with the outside world. On the day of his twentieth birthday, he plans to kill himself, at exactly one o'clock, unless he recieves a phone call from someone wishing him a happy birthday before then. The film would begin at 9 o'clock and show the man in what will (possibly) be his last few hours on Earth.
The entire film would take place in the one location (his apartment), with few actors, and would for the most part be narrated (the inner dialogue of a very troubled man).
Any feedback/ suggestions on this idea?

No. Or at least I wouldn't watch it. Unless you had Bill Murray do it. He's the only one I can watch doing nothing.

Excuse for being blunt, but the idea is just plain boring... And the way of telling the story is as dull as it is overused (the narration, I mean).
However, if instead of the narration you were able to explain the conflict using flashbacks, and going back and forth between those memories (w/sound, handheld camera, maybe like homemade videos or something), and the man alone in the room (no sound). Maybe black and white for the man (B&W is overused for flashbacks, but how 'bout the other way 'round? though that's probably been done a thousand times as well).
Or, switch between memories, the man in the room, and his friends and family preparing a surprise party at the same time he's thinking about killing himself...

Maybe then you'll have a story even Ryan Cole would want to watch... without Bill Murray!

E.

Yeah that's a rough concept, but the idea that he'll kill himself at a certain time gives you something to work with.

But wait, Gus Van Sant just did a movie like that. It was a loose biography of the last hours of Kurt Cobains life, I believe its mostly in one location. Oh well don't give up on it, at least write it and then you'll see if it works!

Good luck.

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Unless you had Bill Murray do it.

Haha, I wish.

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Excuse for being blunt, but the idea is just plain boring... And the way of telling the story is as dull as it is overused

No need to excuse yourself. I didn't ask the question looking for encouragement, just opinions. I appreciate your honesty.

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Gus Van Sant just did a movie like that. It was a loose biography of the last hours of Kurt Cobains life

Any idea on what it was called. I might have to check it out.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions guys, much appreciated. If any one else wants to share their thoughts, please do.

well if the movie secret honor had a guy on screen for an hour and a half then im sure you could do it. and secret honor wasnt that terrible. so if you made it interesting i guess you could do it.

I would say do it, but only if it's because you have problems getting more than one actor or location etc... sounds kinda like you're just working with what you've got, and this sounds maybe like the best you could do with very little. Don't worry about it being dull or boring, the last concern should be how you are going to get people to watch/sit through it. Only worry about that AFTER you've mad eit for yourself. Hopefully then it won't matter. Don't know how long you plan this to be, but I'd say nothing much over 60 minutes (thugh in the end that's up to you).

Style'll be everything. Surprise yourself. Plan something that feels natural to you and morph it to something that you wished would've felt natural in the first place.

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Any idea on what it was called. I might have to check it out.

Last Days, with Michael Pitt.

Anyway, the idea in and of itself is fine, but that means absolutely nothing. You have to figure out what you want to say before you try to structure a narrative.

Cheers guys, appreciate the feedback.

think up somting else

Oh man let me write the screenplay.

INT. - BEDROOM.

MAN: I hate life and its extraneous mental baggage. I'm going to shoot myself at 1 o'clock if no one wishes me a happy birthday, because whining always got me what I wanted.

CUT TO:

INT. - BEDROOM

Shot of blood-splattered clock showing 1:02.

THE END

See? Now THAT could work!!!

E.