ok, i just thought of an idea for a script but the concept seems strangely familiar. Have i subliminally stolen a plot?

A man (19) is living a moderate life, nothing too fancy but a good bunch of friends, nice average job with an above average wage.

He realizes he has strange, almost magical powers; he comes across this realization when weird things begin to happen. An example of this could be as he's jogging he realizes he can run faster then ever before, or when his car breaks down he gets frustrated and asks himself why the car can't just WORK (at which point it works). At the same time as this is happening, he meets the girl of his dreams and instantly falls in love with her.

During what seems like an almost perfect relationship, the girl becomes depressed and tells him he wouldn’t understand. He also notices she has unexplained scars on her neck. She stops calling and she won’t let him into her house. After a while the man is fed up and decides he will see her at any cost. On the way to meet her he bumps into a man who, at sight of the protagonist, becomes enraged, and shouts at the man "who do you think you are?, don't you walk away from me, you can't hide from me".

The protagonist is obviously confused and outruns the man, getting to the house of his girlfriend. The door is open and he walks right in and finds her crying in her room. The lights begin to flicker and he asks what’s wrong. She starts crying hysterically, almost screaming, and when the man puts his hand on her shoulder she turns her head towards him and screams "Wake up".

The lights flicker bright and the screen goes white, fading into an old 80 - 90 year old man laying in a hospital bed on life support. He looks around and sees on his side table an old image of the girl in a frame. He sits up and picks it up. he notices a small piece of paper hanging out of the drawer, and he opens it, reading that a man, in a drug induced rampage, had shot an old aged couple, killing the wife and putting the husband in a coma (paper is dated 19 years ago). He has flashbacks about the incident, the angry man in his dream being the murderer and the girl in his dream being his wife. He begins to cry and after more flashbacks, he pulls the plug on his life-support, killing himself. Perhaps as a final shot he can see his wife again?

as i wrote it i sorta realized that it's like, a mix between lost highway and the machinist.

thoughts on improvement?

Nothing's original. Every idea has been done before. It's what you do to make it your own that's important. By comparing it to two other films you basically answered your own question. Don't make a film just because the idea is unique only on a specific level.

The only suggestion I care to make is, since when is a 19 year old a man?

I realized the similarities halfway through writing it, those films just sorta came to mind. I realize that no idea is original, i was just hoping to get some responses on whether it's too .. cliche'. Obviously the idea will change somewhat as i develop it.

Whats with the hostility? i just wanted some feedback on the idea.

Yes. it's cliche. An old man pulling the plug on his own life support? It's original in that it's never been done before, but there's some reasons for that.

It's also got a lot of Memento-esque plotline in there. Seems like you've been watching a lot of Christopher Nolan films.

This is what feedback is. I guess I'm just a cynical, crabby old man by nature.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: funkbomb,

Most movies that only focus on being original are usually very painfull to watch. David Lynch + midget dream sequence = original and boring

Originality is important but it's a new perspective that makes it original, not unexpexted combinations of plot points, or midgets or monkeys or ninjas, maybe midget ninja monkeys but I suspect that's been done as well.

And cliche is such a safe haven for the lazy critic. Like when you go to an italian retaraunt you wouldn't complain that serving pasta here was cliche, unless your a hack of some sort, but instead you judge the cook on how his version of pasta tastes.

But I will say your story needs to have some themes, right now I see plot conventions that don't say anything. The plot gives the structure but the themes give it flavor and in turn it's originality.

You won't know until you write it!

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: REDking,

quote:

Originally posted by REDking:
Most movies that only focus on being original are usually very painfull to watch. David Lynch + midget dream sequence = original and boring

Wow. Do you realize David Lynch doesn't even try to be original at all? At least thats not his main goal in the slightest.

And I didn't find that scene was boring at all...have you followed the rest of the Twin Peaks season? That scene is actually very dramatic in context. And even if you don't watch it in context, if you purposefully make yourself mentally vulnerable and let your mind marinate in the scene, I think you can still appreciate Lynch's mastery of perfecting and combining sound design and editing for one powerful subconscious experience.

I shoulfd have known I'd get Lynched for that statement (groan). Anyway questionable example aside the topic was about originality in relation to this kids script idea and in terms of our own endevours. Putting down the fanboy hat for a moment how do you feel about it BB.

quote:

Originally posted by braininabox:
And even if you don't watch it in context, if you purposefully make yourself mentally vulnerable and let your mind marinate in the scene

You've lost like 90% of America right there.

After a bit more development, i've come to the realization (with a bit of help from funkbomb) that the ending blows. I think after some serious plot consideration, i can put a cool spin and a cool style on it, it could end up a whole different story.

And for the record, the only Christopher Nolan film i've seen is The Prestige. I am a big fan of David Lynch though (seems popular in this discussion.)

Would anyone be interested in reading the script when i'm done or should i stop bothering you?

I really like reading scripts...so you can you may get lengthy feedback though

I am glad you are reconsidering your ending...

Also consider the completely different ways the same theme of "discovering superpowers" has been handled. Some good, some disgusting. From "Unbreakable" to "Hellboy" to "Harry Potter" to "Spiderman". Sometimes its not originality in plot content that matters, its originality in delivery that counts.

awesome,
yeah i think i might drop the whole powers thing. Maybe replace it with wierd occurances he can't control or subtle dream-signs.

I want this to be a killer script and idea, after all, it could be the deciding factor for getting into film school. Lengthy feedback would be awesome.

I'm currently filming a different production, so it's hard to balance schoolwork, filming, scriptwriting, part-time job and a girlfriend, but eventually i'll get around to it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Psychonaut,

Like others said, being original isn't that necessary.

If you gave another director the same script to some movie that has been done, the movie would turn out completely different. It's the direction and approach to the story that matters.

If you sum a story up into a few paragraph summary, you will see many similarities to other stories. I suggest writing out the screenplay and then decide how "original" it is.

Yeah, I think i'll write a fairly detailed screenplay and see how it turns out, thanks for the advice everyone.

Does anyone have any ideas on how the idea itself could be improved before i start the script?