After a selfish, irresponsible, 18 year old’s father is framed and she is given his hyper- intelligent OCD son (11) to look after, she must fool Social Services into believing she is responsible enough to care for the boy, or outwit a crime syndicate into negotiating her father?s release before the boy is removed from her care.

6 reviews

dpg Singularity · 112,231 pts

When her father is imprisoned, an irresponsible 18-year old motherless girl must learn how to support and raise her hyper-intelligent but OCD younger brother.
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Awkward, but it seems to me that this is the story hook, and a logline should lead with and focus on the story hook.? By story hook I mean that it is the factor most likely to "hook" a? movie maker's attention, make him want to read the script.

Why do I think it is the story hook?? Because it is simply the more emotionally charged story line.? Two young people must struggle together to survive in a tough world by their own wits.? "Outwit a crime syndicate into negotiating her father?s release " -- whatever that means -- seems pale in comparison;? in terms of emotional engagement, I think it's a side show.

In addition, taking care of her brother is the more compatible story line for working out her character arc.? She's describe as "selfish, irresponsible"-- character flaws she will more directly and intensely have to confront and overcome in her relationship with her brother than in any dealings with a crime syndicate. (Come to think about it, what character flaw would she have to overcome to deal with bad guys?)

fwiw

The_CNI Samurai · 1,187 pts

I understand that these are flaws that she will overcome, adding a satisfactory character arc, but the real question is this: what are her limiting beliefs that could lead to losing her brother? Certain emotions can create thoughts and beliefs, and certain beliefs can cause certain emotional character flaws.

Maybe she is selfish because she believes that no one else matters nor is worth helping out, because it's a dog eat dog world out there. Maybe she's irresponsible because she believes that things will sort themselves out and that she doesn't need to worry and do anything about it.

An unrelated example: a drug addict would believe that life is too mundane, unpleasant or harsh to deal with without the aid of heroin...until they meet the man/woman of their dreams and realize that they don't need it in their life and that they will lose their love if they don't go clean.

IMHO, its best to stick to one of the flaws you mentioned in your logline. Remember the belief system she would have.? A simpler way of viewing it, is that the character believes a lie, and that by the beginning of the 3rd act, she learns the truth.

Anyway this all my personal opinion.

So what is the appeal of this 18year old? She is both selfish AND irresponsible, what are the positive things about her that don't allow her flaws to undercut her appeal?

Jo Logliner · 342 pts

After a selfish, irresponsible, 18 year old?s father is framed for money laundering and she is given his hyper- intelligent OCD son (11) to look after, she must use limited resources to fool Social Services into believing she is responsible enough to care for the boy to stop them removing him from her care.