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1[[quoteright:302:[[Series/DogWithABlog https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dwablogo.png]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:302:Guess what the premise is.]]
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4->''"You think there's a treasure map... on the back of the Declaration of Independence."''
5-->-- '''Abigail Chase''', ''Film/NationalTreasure''
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7[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Describe "High Concept" here:]]
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9'''A fresh, unique, and compelling story ''premise'' that can be easily summed up in a single sentence or two.'''
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11A 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.
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13A 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]].
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15Occasionally, 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.
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17High 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.
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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.
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21If the High Concept is right there in the title, then it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
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23The 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.
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25[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not]] the kind of concept invented [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs while stoned]].
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27Compare {{Laconic}}. See also JustForFun/PitchTheWork, a JustForFun page for a game that involves listing High Concepts for works.
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