Stop looking for great movie ideas

Summary

The video script emphasizes that the success of a film lies not in the uniqueness of its idea, but in the execution of that idea. It uses examples from renowned movies like 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Godfather' to illustrate that even common storylines can become masterpieces through thoughtful storytelling and creative choices. The speaker encourages aspiring filmmakers to focus on the execution of their ideas rather than waiting for a perfect concept, highlighting that hard work, preparation, and personal growth will enhance their filmmaking over time.

Takeaways

• 💡 Execution is more important than the idea itself in filmmaking.
• 🎬 IMDB top 250 movies show that even common ideas can become great films with excellent execution.
• 🚀 Story ideas are plentiful and most have been told in various forms, adhering to the notion that there are only seven basic story plots.
• 👥 A film's success often lies in the unique perspectives, experiences, and tastes of the filmmaker.
• 🎥 Great films often stand out due to thoughtful choices in cinematography, character development, and narrative structure.
• 🌟 The magic of filmmaking lies in the creative execution of a basic idea, not the idea itself.
• 💼 Hard work and preparation are crucial to the successful execution of a film idea.
• 📈 Filmmakers should focus on how to make their mark on an idea rather than searching for a 'perfect' idea.
• 🚫 Worrying about idea theft is unnecessary as it's the intangibles and personal choices that make an idea truly unique.
• 🌱 Beginner filmmakers can learn and grow over time, leading to better execution and more personal films.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the video regarding film ideas?

The main argument is that the idea for a film is less important than the execution of the idea. While many ideas may sound generic on paper, it's the unique and thoughtful way they are brought to life that makes a film stand out and resonate with audiences.

How does the video illustrate the point about the importance of execution over idea?

The video uses examples from highly acclaimed films like 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'The Godfather', 'The Dark Knight', and 'Fight Club' to show that even though their basic plot ideas might not seem extraordinary, it's the execution, including the characters, cinematography, and storytelling, that makes them memorable and loved by audiences.

What are some factors that contribute to good execution in filmmaking?

Good execution in filmmaking involves factors such as hard work, preparation, perspective, experience, and taste. These elements help filmmakers to elevate a simple idea or plot into an excellent film.

How does the video suggest filmmakers can improve their execution skills?

The video suggests that filmmakers can improve their execution skills by continuously making movies, growing as a person, and learning from their experiences. Over time, they will develop a better understanding of how to bring their ideas to life in a unique and compelling way.

What is the common misconception about film ideas that the video aims to dispel?

The video aims to dispel the misconception that a film's success depends on having a unique or perfect idea. Instead, it emphasizes that it's the filmmaker's ability to execute the idea in an amazing way that truly matters.

Why shouldn't filmmakers worry about others stealing their ideas?

Filmmakers shouldn't worry about idea theft because the true value lies in the intangibles and the choices made during the development and execution of the idea. These unique elements cannot be replicated by someone else, making the original filmmaker's vision irreplaceable.

What was the author's personal realization about film ideas?

The author realized that the idea itself for their film about cavemen wasn't what made it great. It was the unique perspective, the choices they would have made during the filmmaking process, and the personal touch they would have added to the idea that truly mattered.

How does the video encourage beginner filmmakers?

The video encourages beginner filmmakers by telling them that they don't need a perfect idea to start making films. Instead, they should focus on how they can execute their ideas in an amazing way and that their skills will naturally improve over time with practice and experience.

What is the advice given to filmmakers who are waiting for the 'perfect' idea?

The advice given is to stop waiting for a perfect idea and instead focus on the execution of the ideas they already have. Filmmakers should start developing their movies by considering how they can make the execution of their ideas stand out and be amazing.

How does the video's perspective on film ideas apply to other creative fields?

The perspective that execution is more important than the idea can be applied to other creative fields such as writing, art, music, and more. In these fields, it's also the way an idea is crafted, presented, and brought to life that truly makes it unique and impactful.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Importance of Execution in Filmmaking

This paragraph emphasizes that the success of a film is not determined by the uniqueness of its idea, but rather by the execution of that idea. The speaker uses examples from IMDb's top 250 movies to illustrate that even common storylines can become great films through thoughtful and unique execution. The paragraph discusses how the details, such as character development, cinematography, and narrative perspective, can transform a simple idea into a memorable movie. The speaker encourages budding filmmakers to focus on the execution of their ideas rather than waiting for a 'perfect' idea, and to remember that hard work and personal growth will naturally improve their filmmaking over time.

05:02

💡 Overcoming Fear of Idea Theft and the Value of Personal Touch

In this paragraph, the speaker shares a personal anecdote about how their once-in-a-lifetime movie idea was taken up by a neighbor, leading to initial feelings of rage and panic. However, they eventually realized that the true value of a film idea lies in the intangibles and unique choices that the creator brings to its development. The speaker advises not to worry about idea theft, as the personal touch and execution cannot be replicated by others. The paragraph concludes with an encouragement to start making films without waiting for a perfect idea, focusing instead on how to execute the idea in an amazing way.

Keywords

💡Execution

Execution in the context of the video refers to the process of bringing a film idea to life through skillful and creative means. It is considered more important than the idea itself because it is the execution that makes a film resonate with audiences. For example, the video mentions how 'The Shawshank Redemption' is about a man breaking out of prison, but it's the thoughtful and unique way it's executed that makes it stand out.

💡Idea

An idea in filmmaking refers to the initial concept or story that a film is based on. The video emphasizes that while ideas are important, they are not as crucial as the execution. It suggests that many ideas may sound generic on paper, but it's the filmmaker's unique interpretation and execution that can turn a simple idea into a memorable film.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is the art of telling stories in a way that engages and captivates an audience. In the video, it is argued that the magic of filmmaking and storytelling lies in the execution of basic ideas, not in the ideas themselves. The way a story is told, the characters are developed, and the narrative unfolds can greatly affect how the audience receives the film.

💡Cinematography

Cinematography refers to the art of capturing visual elements in filmmaking. It includes camera angles, lighting, shot composition, and other visual aspects that contribute to the overall aesthetic and storytelling of a film. The video highlights the importance of cinematography in the execution of a film idea, using 'The Godfather' as an example of excellent cinematography that enhances the storytelling.

💡Character Development

Character development is the process of creating and evolving characters in a story to make them believable and relatable. The video emphasizes that every supporting character in a well-executed film should be unique and have their own interesting stories, which adds depth to the main narrative. This concept is crucial in making a film memorable and impactful.

💡Perspective

Perspective in filmmaking refers to the unique viewpoint or approach a filmmaker takes in telling a story. It is a personal and creative lens through which the narrative is shaped and presented. The video argues that a filmmaker's perspective, combined with their experience and taste, is a significant part of what makes a film's execution stand out.

💡Preparation

Preparation in the context of filmmaking involves the planning and groundwork done before the actual production of a film. This includes scripting, casting, location scouting, and other logistical aspects. The video suggests that thorough preparation is a key component of successful execution, as it allows the filmmaker to fully realize their vision.

💡Experience

Experience in filmmaking refers to the knowledge and skills a filmmaker gains over time through practice and learning. The video posits that as filmmakers gain experience, their ability to execute their ideas improves, leading to better films. Experience allows filmmakers to make more informed decisions and to handle the complexities of filmmaking with greater proficiency.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination to create something new or to find new ways of doing things. In filmmaking, creativity is essential for the execution of a film idea. It allows filmmakers to put their unique spin on a story, making it fresh and engaging. The video stresses that creativity in execution is what truly sets films apart and makes them memorable.

💡Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of creating a film, which includes the development of a story, the production of the film, and its post-production. It encompasses all aspects of pre-production, production, and post-production, and is the central focus of the video. The video argues that the essence of filmmaking lies not in the originality of the idea, but in how that idea is executed.

💡Ideation

Ideation is the process of generating and developing ideas. In the context of the video, it refers to the initial stage of filmmaking where a story concept is formed. The video suggests that while ideation is necessary, it is the execution of these ideas that truly matters in creating a successful and impactful film.

Highlights

The idea for a film is less important than its execution.

IMDb top 250 movies show that even common ideas can be highly successful with the right execution.

The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, and The Dark Knight are examples of films with simple ideas but exceptional storytelling.

Story ideas are a dime a dozen; most have been done before in some form.

The magic of filmmaking lies in the execution of basic ideas, not the ideas themselves.

Supporting characters and unique perspectives can greatly enrich a film's narrative.

Great execution in filmmaking involves hard work, preparation, perspective, experience, and taste.

As filmmakers grow, they can take simple ideas and turn them into excellent films through improved execution.

The director's unique perspective and personal touch can make a common plot stand out.

Filmmakers should focus on how to make their mark on an idea rather than waiting for a perfect idea.

Ideas are not as valuable as the execution; what matters is the filmmaker's unique approach to bringing the idea to life.

Filmmakers should not fear having their ideas stolen, as the true value lies in the personal execution of the idea.

A great film can be made by focusing on amazing execution rather than an amazing idea.

The key to filmmaking success is the ability to make unique and thoughtful choices within the idea.

Even the most overused plots can be made original through the filmmaker's distinctive execution.

Transcripts

good news if you want to make a film you

don't need to keep waiting around for

that perfect idea because the idea for a

film is actually much much less

important than the execution of the idea

and in this video i'm going to prove to

you and show you

all right let's take a quick look at the

imdb top 250 movies and see how strong

the ideas for the films really are the

shawshank redemption what's the idea a

man who was wrongfully imprisoned

finally breaks out of prison

the godfather a mob family in the 40s

passes leadership down to the boss's son

the dark knight batman must save gotham

from joker and two-face

12 angry men a jury deliberates a murder

case the good the bad and the ugly three

gun slingers vie for a buried treasure

fight club as crazy guy starts a secret

club fighting

do you notice anything about these ideas

they don't sound that great on paper do

you know why because they really aren't

and those are supposed to be the most

loved movies on imdb the truth is no

matter what you come up with story ideas

are a dime a dozen and for all intents

and purposes they have all been done in

one form or another in fact some would

argue that there are only seven story

plots that have ever been told

[Music]

so if there's nothing new under the sun

then why do some movies resonate with an

audience while others don't because of

how a basic idea is executed that is

where the magic of filmmaking and

storytelling in general lives so let's

go over some of those movies again

shawshank we tell the man's story from

his friend's perspective not his he

handles imprisonment with surprising

grace and we come to see that he was

imprisoned before shawshank and being

trapped in shawshank taught him how to

be truly free and redeem himself every

supporting character is fully unique and

alive with the interesting stories of

their own it's a period piece spanning

decades morgan freeman narrates the

story and a time before morgan freeman

was narrating everything so yes it's a

movie about a guy breaking out of prison

but it was executed in a very thoughtful

unique way go with the godfather i don't

know where to start incredible

cinematography characters just draped in

shadow you got fresh-faced young al

pacino who's paired up with the

legendary marlin brando you've got the

intertwining of business and family in

every aspect of the film you got love

and violence going hand in hand with

that theme just incredibly well executed

film let's take the dark knight how many

batman movies have we seen at this point

but what if it's executed in a much

grittier darker way than we've ever seen

batman before what if the joker is

portrayed as this anarchist really

disturbing vision of what the joker

could be what if it starts with a great

bank heist but it subverts your

expectations at every turn while

displaying how ruthless and brilliant

the joker really is what if the batman's

character arc from hero to villain in

the public eye is mimicked by harvey

dent as he turns into two-face what if

two faces not a cartoonish two-face but

a real disfigured two-face from all the

burns that he suffered how about these

giant practical stunts over cgi how

about a pounding han zimmer score these

are the kinds of choices within the idea

of the film that make them stand out

films this is the execution so how do

you the budding filmmaker execute your

idea well too well a lot of good

execution just comes down to hard work

and preparation and the rest of it comes

down to things like perspective

experience and taste and this should

actually be very encouraging to hear for

a beginner filmmaker because guess what

all of that will come naturally over

time as you keep making more movies and

just growing as a person so as you

progress as a filmmaker you'll be able

to take the most simple idea or plot and

elevate it into an excellent film i mean

look at the movie drive it's the most

simple plot ever it's been done 100

times before oh a getaway driver who

falls in love but it wasn't the idea of

the film that made it work so well it

was the director's ability to combine a

unique perspective on these kinds of

stories with his own experience and

taste then he just worked his ass off he

actually moved into a house with the

writer and cast drove around to la at

night together studied other movies

eventually made the edit suite

part of his house until he figured out

his execution of drive and taken the

simple idea of a getaway driver who

falls in love and turned it into one of

the best movies of 2011 so the reason

i'm telling you this and making this

video is so many filmmakers myself

included get hung up on not having a

good enough idea for a movie and that

becomes their excuse to never make

anything but the truth is you probably

have tons of great ideas because one

movie idea isn't necessarily any better

than another and instead of worrying

about which idea to choose you should be

focusing your time and energy on how you

could put your own unique stink on one

of your many ideas and make the

execution amazing for example me and my

writing partner have wanted to make a

low budget horror film for years but

we've always dismissed the idea of doing

some cheap one location scary film and a

cabin out in the woods we just said it's

been done way too many times and that's

true so we kept waiting around for a

better idea but the truth is it's never

been done the way we would have done it

which means it's not been done at all

which means it's not a bad idea at all a

few years ago i was writing what i

thought was going to be my opus it was a

movie that i knew would be almost

impossible to actually get made but i

was incredibly confident that it would

be the best movie i ever could make and

just a once in a lifetime idea and one

of my neighbors was a beginner filmmaker

and i mentioned the idea for the movie

to him it was about cavemen and i went

on for a while about how nobody makes

caveman movies

and a couple months later i heard he was

going off to make a short film about

cavemen

i don't have much of an appetite thank

you

i just flipped out i went from rage to

panic oh my god my once-in-a-lifetime

idea is gone to finally i just started

laughing at the guy because i came to

the realization that the idea for my

movie wasn't what made it great it was

all in the execution he could steal the

idea but he couldn't steal all of the

intangibles i was bringing to it the

choices i was going to make along the

way of developing it which were the only

things that really mattered and made the

story good so the point of the story is

don't worry about people stealing your

idea the ideas honestly don't matter

it's all about the decisions you make

along the way of bringing that idea to

life that is the execution and also

don't wait around to start making a

movie you don't need a perfect idea to

hit you like a lightning bolt you can

start developing an amazing movie right

now today by changing your focus from

what's an amazing idea to what's an

amazing way i could execute this idea i

already have

thanks for watching