There are so many ideas. Everyone thinks they have the best idea for a movie or TV show, and many of them may seem very interesting at first glance. But it’s not just about coming up with an amazing concept – that’s the easy part. it is how you deliver This concept is indeed important.
With that in mind, here are some simple, easy-to-implement ways to turn your core ideas into something worth investing your time, energy, and money in the eyes of Hollywood and those in power.
Just having ideas is not enough
Before we dive into this topic, it should be noted that having an idea is not enough. The real work happens when you combine that idea with narrative, characters, plot points, story and character arcs, genre choices, tone, and themes.
You can’t even copyright an idea because the idea can be very vague and easily imagined by someone else. We are all influenced by the same content, stories, and archetypes.
So while it’s exciting when you get the spark of an idea in your head, know that it’s just the beginning. There is still much work to be done.
Produced and distributed over 11 productions (one miniseries) as a professional screenwriter with major studios/networks/streamers (Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Disney, Paramount, Netflix, Lifetime) Having multiple meetups/pitch sessions etc.), I came up with the idea using the following method. Some have been picked up and produced. Some got me into major studio, network and streaming doors. Is there anyone else? Well, you can’t win them all.
Where do ideas come from?
Ideas come from all over.
- our life
- our community
- News
- movies we watch
- TV Shows We Binge
- Books and short stories we read
- true stories we heard
- folklore
- myth
- religion
- the world around us
You can watch a movie or TV series and see stories and character paths that have never been explored before. You might be reading a novel and wondering how the story might be different if the author focused on supporting characters or took a different story path.
Perhaps the best way to spark ideas is to ask “what if” questions in your life.
- What would happen if a nuclear submarine was ordered to launch its nuclear arsenal into the world? (Crimson Tide)
- What if a little boy could see dead people but no one else could? (sixth sense)
- What if the world we live in is actually a computer simulation? (The Hack)
- What if the Wicked Witch of the West wasn’t always so evil? (evil)
The first spec script that got me into studio meetings at Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, and Disney came from a “what if” question that actually involved one of my examples above.
i have always loved Crimson Tide. It’s a powerful story and the imagination runs wild as we consider the questions the script raises. By the end of it (minor spoilers ahead), I conjured my own “what if” concept from it.
Read more: 101 “What if” Story Prompts
“Red Tide” (1995)
Ideas are seeds
Some ideas need to grow. You can think of them as seeds to be planted. All seeds need love, attention, water and sunlight to grow. Even a beautiful rose is nothing more than a brown seed. It takes work to grow into something unique and beautiful.
Ideas can start with a storyline, a core concept, or a gimmick (more on that below). They can even start with a simple visual that gets you stuck in your head.
- A man with solemn eyes sat in the back seat of the police car.
- A man flies above the clouds.
- There is a pair of terrible eyes in the cornfield at night, with a pair of glowing eyes inside.
These are all examples of ideas that need to be turned into a novel, feature film, or TV series.
These ideas may become anythingdepending on how you “water” them.
- The character in the back seat of the police car may be an innocent man who was wrongly arrested.
- The man flying in the clouds could be a winged demon looking for angels to kill him.
- This creature with glowing eyes could be an innocent alien abandoned on Earth.
How to Water Creative Seeds
This is the fun part. Recognizing your idea as a seed will help you handle it carefully first.
Too many writers jump into the writing process too early, never really developing their ideas, never really giving them a chance to grow.
You can water your seeds (developing your ideas) in many ways.
Find type
Deciding what type of story you want to tell is key:
- Would your idea work best as a drama that focuses on real-life issues, emotions, and struggles that the characters are going through?
- Will it be fun?
- Will it be a rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns?
- Could it be an interesting genre fusion, bringing two different genres together for greater impact and appeal?
When you find this type, you are watering the seeds of the idea that specifically require branches that belong to your chosen type. It attracts more creativity when you have some general boxes you need to check to see if an idea falls under a certain genre umbrella.
Learn more: 101 Story Prompts for Mixing Genres
See a movie
Once you understand the genre, you can do some creative research. This process is not about finding the real factors related to your idea. It’s about delving into the genre and watching everything you can.
When you do this, your brain will start picking out certain types of elements that work best for your idea. It’s as if the analogy goes from your idea going from a seed that needs to grow to a pile of clay, and every time you look at an example of a genre, you’re adding more and more clay. Slowly, you will begin to shape your ideas into something more unique and special.
you can:
- Attach a character archetype you saw in another movie to your idea.
- Put your ideas into a certain storyline you’ve seen in other movies in the genre.
- Find common ground between your idea and other successful films, while doing your best to subvert expectations (more on that below).
Read more: 5 things screenwriters should learn when watching movies
daydream
Again, don’t jump into the writing process. Give your thoughts some space and time to breathe.
Everything you’ve done above needs to be slightly marinated. You can do this by visualizing the story and characters built around your idea. You can do this while driving to work, taking your dog for a walk, mowing the lawn or shoveling snow, exercising, relaxing and listening to music, daydreaming at school or work, etc.
Let everything breathe, marinate, settle. Your brain does a lot of the work for you. Everything will come together.
“Chungking Express” (1994)
Beyond gimmicks
Many ideas are just gimmicks at first.
- A character wakes up with superpowers.
- Characters find a portal into a fantasy world.
- One character builds a time machine.
- One character wants to be an assassin.
- The Amish want to experience the world of technology.
These are not entirely concrete ideas. These are all gimmicks. You need to find the depth of these gimmicks by attaching them to narrative, plot, character arcs, genre, etc.
- A character wakes up with superpowers and decides to use them to rob banks to give back to the poor.
- The characters find a portal into a fantasy world that in many ways strangely mirrors their own lives, giving them the challenge of balancing their fantasy worlds with their real-world lives.
- A character builds a time machine, only to discover that if they decide to use it, they can never return to the original timeline.
- One character wants to be an assassin, but they’re a clumsy boy with no blood to see and no skills to speak of.
- The Amish want to experience the world of technology, only to discover that they possess vast embedded intelligence that allows them to create one of the most advanced technologies in human history.
These are just the beginning of going beyond the initial one-note gimmick and attaching the necessary storytelling elements to create more depth and conceptual impact.
Read more: Three fun games to help you find better screenplay ideas
“Hot Tub Time Machine 2” (2015)
Ask story development questions
This is the beginning of the real development of an idea. There are some questions you can ask yourself to spark your imagination and get your creative juices flowing.
Some writers rely on established formulas, structured frameworks, or detailed beat sheets to shape their stories. These are all possible approaches. However, truly insightful and talented writers go much deeper. They take the time to ask themselves as many thoughtful questions as possible.
Why? Because questions drive people to explore and seek answers. The answer that emerges from this spiritual and imaginative exploration is the essence of the story and its characters.
These questions and the insights they reveal will be your compass, guiding you through the development process. They can help you craft narratives that are engaging, emotionally resonant, and unforgettable for your audience.
Development is a flexible and creative process that you can participate in anytime, anywhere. You don’t need to sit in front of a keyboard or scribble in a notebook to make progress.
You can ask these key questions in the everyday moments of your life.
Let your mind roam freely. Meditate, daydream or simply reflect. This creative wandering is where the seeds of your story take root.
Read more: The Ultimate List of Story Development Questions
“The Amazing Story of Henry Sugar” (2023)
Make sure your idea has not been implemented before
It never hurts to do some background research on your concept. A simple Google search can do wonders to ensure that the path your idea takes is not yet complete—at least in the story you want to tell.
Always strive to subvert expectations
this is the key to developing compelling ideas! Since we know that most ideas and concepts are done in a similar way, we also know that the only way your idea can stand out is by offering something new.
Now, Hollywood usually delivers what audiences want most—the familiar. But they also want one new Familiar. This is where expectations are subverted.
When you deal with certain genres and certain types of concepts, audiences (and Hollywood) also have expectations.
If a genre or concept trope usually goes one way, find a way to lead the audience down a surprisingly different path. cheer up. Subverting an otherwise familiar concept.
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There is no secret formula to do this. If anything, we would all be rich. The key is to let your imagination run wild on whatever ideas come to your mind. The answer will eventually emerge.
Read more: Writing that Meets and Defies Expectations
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Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.
As a production writer, he participated in numerous studio meetings with companies such as Sony, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, Disney, Warner Bros., and numerous production and management companies. He previously signed a development deal with Lionsgate and has had several writing assignments, including producing the miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Hayley Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric Larsa and Bruce Bucklina star in the thriller Hunter’s Creed, as well as many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @ken电影and Instagram @KenMovies76.
