1 | [[quoteright:302:[[Series/DogWithABlog https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dwablogo.png]]]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:302:Guess what the premise is.]] |
3 | |
4 | ->''"You think there's a treasure map... on the back of the Declaration of Independence."'' |
5 | -->-- '''Abigail Chase''', ''Film/NationalTreasure'' |
6 | |
7 | [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Describe "High Concept" here:]] |
8 | |
9 | '''A fresh, unique, and compelling story ''premise'' that can be easily summed up in a single sentence or two.''' |
10 | |
11 | A High Concept is a bare-bones description of the premise of a proposed movie, show, or whatever, used to pitch it to a producer or an audience. |
12 | |
13 | A High Concept work is one that can be explained with a short, to-the-point, and (it is to be hoped) intriguing description; one that can sell on its own merits. This type is loved by producers who can get a full pitch and explanation of what is going to draw in the viewers within ten seconds. From these few lines they can imagine the trailer, the marketing, the TargetAudience and [[TheMerch merchandise]]. |
14 | |
15 | Occasionally, as in the page quote, a line of dialogue or narration from a film [[LampshadeHanging will sum up]] its High Concept for us -- it sometimes seems like [[ExecutiveMeddling Meddling Executives]] demanded a good soundbite to put in the {{trailer|sAlwaysSpoil}}. LetMeGetThisStraight is a frequent contributor. |
16 | |
17 | High Concepts can take several specific forms like: "[[JustForFun/XMeetsY Show A meets Show B]]", "[[WunzaPlot One's an X, the other's a Y: they fight crime]]", or "Film X in the style of Creator W" as well as the labored [[JustForFun/RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE!]] and DieHardOnAnX. Sometimes a High Concept can be based entirely around ''who's'' in it as opposed to what it is, with the implication that the star's unique style or talent will carry the premise -- [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} a sitcom starring Jerry Seinfeld]]; [[Series/{{Frasier}} a sitcom based around Kelsey Grammer's character from]] ''Series/{{Cheers}}''. And of course you can combine headliner talent with a fantastic or unusual situation: [[Series/ThatsSoRaven Raven Symone has psychic powers]]; [[Series/HannahMontana Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter lives a double-life as a normal teenager and pop icon]]. Sometimes a high concept can become so influential and imitable that it becomes a format trope in its own right, as is the case of ''Film/DieHard''; see also TheMagnificentSevenSamurai trope, (based on ''Film/SevenSamurai''), WagonTrainToTheStars (named for the high concept pitch for ''Franchise/StarTrek''), and ABoyAndHisX. |
18 | |
19 | {{SitCom}}s naturally lend themselves to High Concepts; the "Situation" in "Situational Comedy" often doubles as the High Concept tagline. The same is true for the RealityShow genre. |
20 | |
21 | If the High Concept is right there in the title, then it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. |
22 | |
23 | The opposite of High Concept would be Low Concept. In other words, you ''can't'' boil down the premise of a show to a simple pitch or tag line. SliceOfLife shows, comedic or otherwise (such as ''Series/TheMiddle'' or ''Series/{{Parenthood}}'') are a common example of a Low Concept show. |
24 | |
25 | [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]] the kind of concept invented [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs while stoned]]. |
26 | |
27 | Compare {{Laconic}}. See also JustForFun/PitchTheWork, a JustForFun page for a game that involves listing High Concepts for works. |
28 |
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