Why Writing A High Concept Movie Doesn't Make Any Sense - Corey Mandell

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant and Walt Disney Pictures.
Corey teaches screenwriting via private online classes using video conferencing to allow participants to see and hear each other in real time. His highly popular classes draw students from across the US, Europe and Australia.
His students have gone on to sell or option scripts to Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Disney, Fox, Fox 2000, MGM, Universal, USA Network and Lifetime. Others have gained admission to the USC Graduate Screenwriting Program, the AFI Conservatory Screenwriting Program and Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab.
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[@filmcourage]

Here is our full interview with Corey - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYjJlJ2Ebcadfsk

[@LucasPassmore]

Yeah, no. High concept does not automatically mean “bigger”. High concept is a premise that’s very simple to understand and easily communicated. “A killer shark terrorizes a beach community at the peak of the summer season. Three men set out to kill it.” Very straightforward, less in the granular. There doesn’t need to be something literally big, like a meteor, or car chase, or explosions. Ground Hog Day, perfect example of high concept. Also, pretty much any studio romantic comedy. Manhattan, Past Lives, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, After Sun, Mid90’s…. all not high concept.

[@kgoblin5084]

Yup, this. And much as I actually like the unnamed opposite, where you have more complex, mixed plot elements... from a lot of perspectives high-concept is just generally better for the purposes of creating any narrative media. Easier to develop, easier to market.

[@quirkyjoeAnimated]

Yeah I was a bit thrown by his answer - I was thinking does he mean big as in "big idea"? But he didn't seem to mean that. He seems to mean big as in box office success, which is weird. There have been some very commercially successful low concept movies, and lots of high concept movies that weren't big hits.

[@jeremiahnoar7504]

That's not a high concept. That's an elevator pitch. A high concept isn't a way to describe a movie but instead is a certain type of movie. It's a movie that tries to sell itself on interesting premise alone. Lucy (2014) is an example of a high concept film as it's a basic idea without much substance underneath it.

[@jeremiahnoar7504]

@@kgoblin5084 Yeah but I couldn't count on high-concept films or films that are easier to develop and market. Elementals was a high concept film so is a lot of Disney's more recent movies and it's not working any more. I think audience is dying for substance focused films instead of high-concept ones.

[@Diego-lt4wm]

And that name makes zero sense for me. Like High Concept should be complexity and Low Concept simplicity. But I guess it doesn't sound right for Hollywood to say they support Low-Concept movies haha

[@Ruylopez778]

Some examples of "high concept" - INCEPTION, GROUNDHOG DAY, JURASSIC PARK, MEMENTO, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. I agree with Corey's point that each of these movies go deep with their concept and that's what makes them memorable, not the idea in itself. And betting on an exciting concept by itself won't automatically make people care. I think his JAWS pitch could have been made more compelling through word choice, such as; a local sheriff afraid of the water has to protect a beach community from a giant killer shark, in the middle of summer.

[@jesustovar2549]

I never thought of Jurassic Park as high concept, interesting, the other ones you mention are my faves.

[@familycorvette]

This is like an interview with Emily Litella. Corey goes on and on about "bigger isn't better," but high concept doesn't mean bigger. High concept means the idea is dead simple, but so compelling, everyone who hears it slaps their forehead and says, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!!"

[@JacobPatrick1]

THIS!

[@deckrect]

His description is also different from what I learned. I did learn high concept is more about everything around an "what if" while the low concept is more about themes like finding love where unexpected, revenge or fighting the status quo.

[@kenjideaunte]

Like Jurassic Park?

[@deckrect]

@@kenjideaunte Jurassic park was right one of the exemples for high concept.

[@Ruylopez778]

I think his point is that focusing on making the best possible concept that excites everyone who hears it, isn't as important as having a deep exploration of whatever the concept is.

[@davidaustinveal9277]

What I like about this, as an actor and a writer, is the drive to make choices in a way that pulls the audience in. Touches them. It's good to have a concept that get's you going, but I've stopped there in the past. Love this advice, and the example.

[@jeremiahnoar7504]

"Take something interesting and make it more interesting." I like that. So many stories just stop after going as far as their required to go instead of asking, exactly how far can I push this idea?

[@kuramobay2445]

High concept is an instantly exciting film idea that is easy to market to a general audience.

[@damonke79]

I would argue that very few movies that are actually good have anything to do with the general audience in mind. The thought process behind trying to make everything universally liked is what has killed modern cinema. Make the best movie possible. Tell the best story possible. It will find it's audience

[@ephraimwinslow]

High concept = lowest common denominator. And people say American lingo is dumb. Shame on them.

[@chrisjfox8715]

​@@damonke79 You say that but a lot of great concept films came out of the 80s and the 90s

[@vapx0075]

@@ephraimwinslow Not the audience's lowest common denominator, the story's lowest common denominator. I'd like to make that clarification. It's easy to get these things confused because sometimes they're the same. For example, that would make a teen rom com about mean girls or pretty girls or tall girls or 20 things I like/hate about you (idk, Idc) automatically 'high concept' while a movie like Lord of the Rings or shows like Star Trek are low concept because they don't cater for the lowest common denominator audience. I don't know why Film Courage got this guy in to talk on a topic he admits to not knowing, and making him waffle his way through a non-answer, my gosh.

[@oliverford5367]

Loglines and concepts are hard because it's the execution that really matters. Friends has the most boring concept: 6 twenty-somethings hang around in a coffee shop and talk. But it was insanely successful because of the writing and character chemistry.

[@interestedparty7523]

Yeah, some longlines and synopsis' can never do justice to a well-executed story, some things, you just have to read in the entirety to get it.

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

Simple story. Great characters. Recently a spec script was sold. It's called "Level Up" it's about a man who wakes up blindfolded and strapped down next to an Alien who doesn't trust humans in underground Area 51 and need each other to escape. I personally love the idea and it's simple

[@jimcrumb1118]

Corey's advice is great, but I've never considered Breaking Bad or Jaws high concept. I've always understood it as the hook is instantaneously attractive in some way and easy to sell. A great example of high concept is 30 Days of Night, wherein vampires take over an Alaskan town which falls into darkness for a month.

[@ryanhowell4492]

I love it. it inspire me

[@angelmurphy6832]

There is an element of irony in well conceived concepts that some would consider “high.” Some might say well placed irony is the what makes a high concept. His example of slow horses gets there by his process of deepening an initial idea.

[@Bronx_Nate]

Yes irony is definitely a key factor to a high concept. A example of this would be like Titanic. An unsinkable ship that sinks on its maiden voyage.

[@charlessmyth]

It's SPOOKS with the tone of the original IPCRESS File movie. Rinse and repeat :-)

[@ambrosewetherbee8301]

High concept as it was explained to me is essentially an idea that can be succinctly delivered and easily understood, be it by a potential producer/publisher or by the audience. Scope or the idea of "bigger" isn't an inherent factor for high concept. High concept is meant to be easily understood but at the same time, innovative in some way to make it immediately compelling. It should be self evident after the pitch of why it's a potentially great idea. High concept functions by contrasting an established or known ideas/tropes with some kind of innovation that makes the high concept idea stand out immediately as both familiar and yet new or "fresh". I was given Encino Man as a high concept example because it can be presented as "What if Rip Van Winkle was a caveman?".

[@seen921]

Love Corey!! This is it in a nutshell. Character drives story. Depth. Why should we care about characters if they’re a group of stereotypes

[@FAKKER_rap]

🌶️ High concept is a UNIQUE idea that was not shown before or at least is not common. Has interesting situation and intrigue in the logline. 🥒 LOW concept is generic premise that delivers through drama and not situation.

[@Bronx_Nate]

Bigger is better is closer to what a sequel is defined as rather than a high concept. The sequel has to have more explosions, fights, alien ships, etc.

[@TheVisualante11]

What the Hell is Talking about.? JAWS was huge best Selling Book HUGE. It was going to made a movie. The Only Question was who was going to make it.

[@GManWrites]

I appreciate Corey is talking about Slow Horses off the top of his head but it's Slough HOUSE that the Slow HORSES work out of.

[@martaferguson-dun645]

He clarified that point as he began the pitch. Ears 👂

[@GManWrites]

​@@martaferguson-dun645I just watched it again, and he still says Slough Horses. No criticism was intended as already mentioned as I acknowledged he was talking from off the top of his head.

[@smelltheglove2038]

Isn’t it MI-6 as well?

[@GManWrites]

@@smelltheglove2038 MI5 works on intelligence gathering within the UK and MI6 works on gathering intelligence abroad.

[@smelltheglove2038]

@@GManWrites cool. I wasn’t aware. Thanks for the correction. You’ve saved me from future embarrassment.

[@EndrChe]

I think Corey’s a frickin hero for doing these interviews

[@quirkyjoeAnimated]

My understanding was that it doesn't matter at all how big it is to be high concept (there have been some very big low concept movies - Gone With the Wind, Dune, Spartacus) but it matters how much of a hook the logline has - movies like Being John Malkovich or John Dies at the End are not BIG movies like Jaws or Gone with the Wind, but they are movies in which the concept is central to the story in a way might 'upstage' character and plot. The elevator pitch beginning with "a puppeteer discovers a portal that leads directly into the head of actor John Malkovich..." is a higher concept than a summary explaining Scarlett O'Hara's struggles or Spartacus's stand against power.

[@jesustovar2549]

You just said Dune is low concept?

[@trancendental5373]

OK I will have to watch this show. You advertised it way better then Apple ever could.

[@michaeljordan5630]

Has anyone watched slow horses

[@uniktbrukernavn]

I tried but could only get through episode one. I basically grew up on British TV but except for a handful of shows I could never get into it. It's just so...British :)

[@vishad91]

Yes it's really good!

[@plisskenetic]

Breakinbad isn't high concept at all, for one, the premise was just taken from the show Weeds, was partly modeled after scarface & it just follows the ok formula of absolute power corrupts absolutely Speed I'd say was high concept

[@filmcourage]

What do you think? Do you agree with Corey?

[@TheVisualante11]

So is he script Dr? Never mind i just looked up he wrote Battlefield Earth. That explains everything. The ole Quote from "William Goldman" about Hollywood still rings true today.

[@robertdouble559]

Not really.

[@fellowcitizen]

I'd like to hear his opinion of Eyes Wide Shut

[@ericleffingwell8617]

No, maybe it's because I don't know the jargon of the writing industry but what he defines as high concept is just flashiness or spectacle. As a layman I would define 'High Concept' writing as something thought provoking. ET, District 9, V for Vendetta, The Dead Poets Society, American History X, The Shawshank Redemption, Black Swan, Apocalypse Now, Inception, The Matrix, etc... These are high concept movies because they provoke reflection in the audience regarding morality and ethical behavior in an imperfect world setting.

[@okebaram]

Yes I listened to him and actually understood what he said unlike many of the people here, and with correct understanding I do agree

[@Nathanatos22]

I don’t see how a professional writer can so fundamentally misunderstand what high-concept is. High-concept is actually usually the opposite of “big,” as it often entails a monkeywrench thrown into an otherwise mundane situation-for example, Click (2006) or Groundhog Day (1993).

[@jruthnam]

Wow, Corey Mandell with some awesome guidance and an incredible example to understand it practically!

[@Sharath275]

Is heighten concept more like raising stakes in the story or concept. Can anyone help me to understand?

[@KoryWilliamsphotography]

So Basically a high concept movie actually DOES make sense…as long as there’s depth and it’s interesting.

[@daviday87]

It's interesting. I agree with his general ideas on the issue, but I wouldn't have used that example. I would have used the Goodwill Hunting example: in early drafts, Will’s recruited by a government organization that eventually attempts to kidnap and/or kill him...Apparently Rob Reiner asked Damon & Affleck to focus on the fascinating relationship between Will and his therapist. It's such a clear example of prioritizing interesting interpersonal relationships between characters over high-concept pitches. Not saying there isn't a place for high concept ideas, but it is much harder to sell high concept pitches.

[@adny02]

Wow. His answer, or the whole topic put a question in my head. I'm no professional writer, so maybe I'm getting the definition wrong here. What if Superman was never created yet. or comic book movies in general. And today (2023) Someone pitched Richard Donner's Superman. Again, no one has ever heard of Superman or comic books have never been a thing. And this movie is pitched to be filmed exactly as he did it in 1978. Would that movie work with today's audience? Is that to High Concept without already knowing who Superman is to help market it? I personally would like it because I do like movies that draws out a story before the action. Like everything before the mid 1980s. I think today's audiences don't have the patience for films from that era. Would Richard Donner's Superman be considered high concept? Would a studio today fund this idea?

[@c.d.dailey8013]

All right! Somebody agrees with me on high concept. I think high concept is so overrated. Execution is way more important than concept. I like the advice in this video to go deeper and not bigger. Execution can help with it. High concept seems to be just a gimmick. It is a cheap trick to hook in audiences and studio bosses. The only good advice I heard is that begging screen writers should do high concept. That makes sense. High concept is easier to do. So it is more appropriate for people that are just learning about story craft. It is kind of like how little kids read picture books instead of chapter books. High concept also makes it easier for new screenwriters to get into Hollywood and get their foot in the door. If a screenwriter or other storyteller is more experienced, they should move away from the high concept gimmick. They should work more towards better execution. Yes, they should even go for more depth. The story would be so much better that way. A master can make an amazing story out of a boring premise. There are definitely great examples of low concept stories that are good. One of my favorite stories of all time is Lord of the Rings. It is a basic fantasy story where a rag tag team defeats a dark lord. Yet the execution is so wonderful with all the rich world building and the emotional bonds of friendship. 1984 is another great story. It is a basic dystopia with totalitarianism. Yet there is a great richness in showing how such a government and society would work in detail. It also becomes great political commentary and a cautionary tale. Bambi is low concept. It is just about deer living in the forest, and there is not much plot. The movie probably doesn't hold up today. However it really shines in its visuals and music. It is also good at portraying emotions, especially fear. I think that counts as good execution. Bambi is one of the first movies Disney ever done. It really shows what the new medium of animated movies can do. It was really impressive compared to other old Disney movies. By old, I mean stuff that came out before Cinderella. I wonder if high concept is a subjective thing. Lord of the Rings was really groundbreaking for the fantasy genre of its time. Other fantasy stories afterwards were influenced by that. Maybe Lord of the Rings was high concept for its time. People can go "Ooh! An epic fantasy story for adults. What an exciting idea. Ooh someone has to get rid of a fancy item in order to save the day." Nowadays the concept of Lord of the Rings is passe. The story is still great overall. The same thing probably happened to 1984 and the dystopian genre. Maybe even Bambi is like this. Disney movies mainly fit into the fantasy and xenofiction genres. Bambi is one of the first xenofiction movies. I am not sure how weird it seemed at the time. The only xenofiction movie to be before Bambi is Dumbo. I am an experienced storyteller. I do like writing stories. I am just not into screenplays. I am capable of coming up with cool ideas for stories. However if I try to write high concept, I tend to lose interest and fizzle out. I prefer to flesh out my stories with lots of ideas. I like to have one epic fantasy story. Then I can lots of details. This gets into lore and world building. This focus on execution and depth is way better.

[@DenkyManner]

He deliberately described Jaws is the most obnoxious way possible

[@user-zd1jh5zz9n]

What saves the film industry with the movie theaters is the massive increase in population.. We as a culture are to spent on social media and Streaming at home.. If all those who use to come to the movies pre- covid came back. Things would be packing out.. They're not. It's maybe one film or two out of Eight. The rest survive because of the Increase in Population. ( Ten patrons one day and three the next).

[@idxstudios]

Sharknado wasn't high concept..it was deep concept.

[@uniktbrukernavn]

But the sharks were in the sky, which is higher up than the sea and the ground, doesn't that make it high concept? If a shark in the sea smokes weed does that make it high concept? I'm trying to break into the movie industry and I feel I need to know this.

[@quirkyjoeAnimated]

I was a bit thrown by his answer here - I was thinking does he mean big as in "big idea"? But he didn't seem to mean that. He seems to mean big as in box office success, which is weird. There have been some very commercially successful low concept movies, and lots of high concept movies that weren't big hits.

[@charlessmyth]

Corey believes in Masterpiece Theatre :-)

[@Ruylopez778]

I see a few comments saying that Corey can't define "high concept", or got it wrong. And that it isn't vague. Here's 10 different comments with 10 different vague definitions from the comments. High concept means the idea is dead simple, but so compelling, everyone who hears it slaps their forehead and says, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!!" High concept is a premise that’s very simple to understand and easily communicated. High concept is an instantly exciting film idea that is easy to market to a general audience. High-concept is actually usually the opposite of “big,” as it often entails a monkeywrench thrown into an otherwise mundane situation-for example, Click (2006) or Groundhog Day (1993). A "High Concept" work is one which can be pitched with a succinctly expressed premise. High concept is a UNIQUE idea that was not shown before or at least is not common. Has interesting situation and intrigue in the logline. High concept is not bigger. It is more high in concept and low on character development. High concept doesn't mean bigger. It just means the audience has more disbelief to try to suspend. thought that "High Concept" was that which would appeal to the least attentive of the conscious mind I guess "high concept" exists the moment it's successful, and then it disappears the second someone tries to copy it. It's very illusive. I always read high concept to mean: complex and/or sophisticated enough to make a thinking person pause for thought in and of itself. Not a hot ticket item that flies off shelves.

[@filmcourage]

We made a video about High concept a little ways back and right in line with your comment the answers are all over the place - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWTZdmigpct1f5I

[@hackiest]

Lynda Stuart have a great definition of high concept in her book many years ago. Either she was wrong or he is.

[@spakuloid]

You know what would be more instersting. Mi-5 turns out to be - and I'm just spitballing here... Aliens. Aliens and Sharks. Aliens and sharks with fricken lazer beams. High concept depth achieved.

[@vapx0075]

So you should check out MIB

[@cj2075]

Great explanation. Thank you.

[@JacobPatrick1]

The reason he doesn't agree with "High Concept" is because he doesn't understand what it is. Is he at screenwriting "Slow Horses"? (The heightened example is good.)

[@Ruylopez778]

Here's 10 different comments with 10 different vague definitions from the comments section. Kind of proves his point that nobody can define it well, and it's more important to explore a premise deeply than worry about having the perfect concept. High concept means the idea is dead simple, but so compelling, everyone who hears it slaps their forehead and says, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!!" High concept is a premise that’s very simple to understand and easily communicated. High concept is an instantly exciting film idea that is easy to market to a general audience. High-concept is actually usually the opposite of “big,” as it often entails a monkeywrench thrown into an otherwise mundane situation-for example, Click (2006) or Groundhog Day (1993). A "High Concept" work is one which can be pitched with a succinctly expressed premise. High concept is a UNIQUE idea that was not shown before or at least is not common. Has interesting situation and intrigue in the logline. High concept is not bigger. It is more high in concept and low on character development. High concept doesn't mean bigger. It just means the audience has more disbelief to try to suspend. thought that "High Concept" was that which would appeal to the least attentive of the conscious mind I guess "high concept" exists the moment it's successful, and then it disappears the second someone tries to copy it. It's very illusive. I always read high concept to mean: complex and/or sophisticated enough to make a thinking person pause for thought in and of itself. Not a hot ticket item that flies off shelves.

[@JayJ004]

No wonder Hollywood movies suck now. He said everything to say nothing. They’re so out of touch with reality. Or they’re so privy to elite status, its not relatable.

[@paulpena5040]

High concept just means the "hook" or the unusual payoff of the show that supposedly would put it way above other ideas/scripts. I would argue Slow horse (or Slough horse?) going after MI 5 IS a high concept idea.

[@miwe3719]

Definitely think he was oversimplifying Jaws but he made his point

[@fanpandatastic]

That’s literally the point

[@miwe3719]

@@fanpandatastic Not really... he was saying Jaws isn't an interesting idea for a movie based on the discription but I'm saying it obviously isn't when you oversimplify it like he did

[@raminagrobis6112]

The meaning of high concept seldom gets clearer than with classic love stories. The basic elements of any love story are universal and have been known for centuries, at least as far back as with Ovid's Art of Love. Thus, why would any movie that tells about any specific love story as its central, major subject be any more exciting or compelling as the next one or any other made before ? To be plain obvious, let's take the blockbuster ...."Love Story". The part of the movie that concerns itself with the Ali McGraw's illness and the perspective of death occupies at most about 1/4 to 1/3 of the movie and yet, that's what gives it its poignancy. Otherwise, "Love Story" is as ordinary (yet unique from the lovers ' perspective as in any love story between 2 people) as they come. The tragedy of impending doom, a fate completely outside these people ' control, putting a brutal end to a passionate relationship has been done before or after using war. What gives "Love Story" its unique appeal is not its pitch or its topic. It's actor's charisma or star power, the care for minute details that will resonate with anybody having lived through a full-cycle love story, the images quality, the music, etc. "Jaws" likewise outperformed all horror movies ever made not using any particularly original concept but through an exceptional combination of ingredients that gave a basically very simple plot an extraordinary appeal that did not show up on paper.

[@JacobPatrick1]

'You ask them to define high concept, they can't, or they'll give you a definition that makes no sense.' ... Ummmm, well.... I see what you did there.

[@robertdouble559]

Jaws and Breaking Bad high concept? I'd be thinking more like Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Jumanji, Jurassic Park, Planet of the Apes, Downsizing, Being John Malkovich, Her, pretty much any Gondry/Kauffman movie.

[@David-mg1yj]

Sorry, but I don't think Jaws and Breaking Bad are very good examples of High Concept. Try Groundhog Day, Back to the Future, Pleasantville or The Trueman Show, instead. It's not about size and grandeur, it's about the conciseness and salability of the main idea.

[@Corgi_Manu]

I love your videos, but can we get someone who is actually successful in Hollywood? Corey Mandell has all but ONE credit on IMDB; Battlefield Earth, which is rated 2.5.

[@wexwuthor1776]

Aaron Sorkin is probably a little bit harder to get. 😂😂😂

[@BooksForever]

Try educating yourself.

[@TheDiamondShoppeBeats]

Success is subjective. I think this channel is more about everyday professionals and people with previous experience in the industry. I appreciate it because the insight is much more tangible, relatable and realistic. There are many channels that interview "'big time"' actors, directors etc. but unfortunately (or fortunately) everyone won't make a box office hit. To me this channel focuses more on the realistic "human" side of the film industry, not the celebrity-driven grandiose "Hollywood" side of filmmaking. Just my perspective.

[@familycorvette]

Those who can't teach.

[@BooksForever]

@@familycorvette - says those without an original thought.

[@uniktbrukernavn]

I guess "high concept" exists the moment it's successful, and then it disappears the second someone tries to copy it. It's very illusive. I didn't know Breaking Bad was such a hard sell that it took 4 years to get it produced.

[@robertdouble559]

4 years isn't exactly a long time in development hell. That's actually pretty quick.

[@marbellalive24live61]

Es un menguado

[@richardboran749]

Thanks Corey.

[@charlessmyth]

Regardless of how dumb or smart it was, I thought that "High Concept" was that which would appeal to the least attentive of the conscious mind :-)

[@philoki]

exactly the advice I need right now

[@hoban7733]

THANK YOU for affirming my bias against this stupid concept

[@gjg5789]

"What is a high concept" (Slow horse ad)

[@wexwuthor1776]

Tell all this to Vin Diesel pal.

[@michaeljordan5630]

I’ll take you up on that action

[@barbone]

I don t know how Battlefield Earth the movie, fit in this theory. To say make it interesting as posible is not helping much

[@ephraimwinslow]

I always read high concept to mean: complex and/or sophisticated enough to make a thinking person pause for thought in and of itself. Not a hot ticket item that flies off shelves. It's every auteur's theoretical pet project.

[@DollyRanch]

I agree, I think high concept refers to something cerebral and thought-provoking, it does not mean attention-grabbing premise or Oscar-bait subject matter. From the Macquarie Dictionary - High: exalted in tone, sentiment, etc., and often intended for a formal context. Concept: a thought, idea, or notion, often one deriving from a generalising mental operation.

[@DennisTzeng]

From the wording it sounds like that's what it would mean but it actually means the opposite.

[@DennisTzeng]

I understand why it sounds that way but in Hollywood they've been using the term for the exact opposite for decades now@@DollyRanch

[@ephraimwinslow]

@@DennisTzeng Yeah, I prefer the classic literary version. I don't subscribe to the idea that idiots co-opting words for idiot reasons get dibs somehow. Especially if they're late to the party.

[@kgoblin5084]

@@ephraimwinslow "I don't subscribe to the idea that idiots co-opting words for idiot reasons get dibs somehow. Especially if they're late to the party." Says the person who doesn't know the actual definition. It means the story has a straightforward & easily summarized premise... that's it. Notably, an easily summarized premise is somewhat naturally at odds with the story being sophisticated & complex. Hollywood likes those kinds of stories because they make good feature-length films... key point being feature length films aren't actually that long. They are also easy to evaluate via an elevator pitch process.

[@davidtoda1751]

High concept versus nihilism

[@RendallRen]

He did not argue against the best version of "high concept". Not saying he's wrong, but his argument was weak.

[@MrArich96]

High concept doesn't mean bigger. It just means the audience has more disbelief to try to suspend.

[@frederickklarman1942]

Jaws doesn't apply because the film was an adaptation of a best selling novel.

[@Davaldod]

But Mandell is right. Because there truly is almost no such thing as a bad idea. Everything is in the execution. Talented people using professional skills and craft to bring that idea to life. Casablanca. Cool idea. Could've been screwed up royal. Could've sucked. 'Shawshank Redemption.' Take the same script but give it to the wrong people to do. Could've sucked. It's a giant mistake to think that great ideas are self-fulfilling because they absolutely are NOT. Someone could tell you what sounds like the most ludicrous, boring idea for a movie story you've ever heard, but take that same concept and give it to a master and you might end up with a riveting film that moves generations of viewers. Someone gives you their elevator pitch and you think it sounds possibly cool. Read the script. It might put you to sleep after two pages or it might make you weep like a baby at the end and cause you to move Heaven and Earth to get it made. THAT'S the point. The concept was nothing; the EXECUTION is everything.

[@tcrijwanachoudhury]

Sometimes this is true. But if people followed this advice seriously half of the most groundbreaking scripts that have (for better or worse) shaped the whole superhero thing thats been going on for a while now wouldnt exist. Theres a market for everything, write what youre good at and if you think theres a formula to what people like then you need reevalute working in this industry, because its senseless.

[@ktsaravanan]

High concept is not bigger. It is more high in concept and low on character development.

[@hentaimonster]

Is this the same Corey Mandell that wrote Battlefield Earth? If he is is this REALLY some one we should take any advice from? Like really? "Award Winning" meaning a Razzie right?

[@filmcourage]

Have you heard the story? - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKiwlJpslKaIlck

[@myrapaulus727]

​@@filmcourageno I don't want to listen to him any moment more. He is very bad at talking.

[@hentaimonster]

@@filmcourage no, but I will. Your content is pretty fun to listen to even if some disagree/dislike the guest choice. It adds perspective. And even if that movie was a mistake, mistakes are how we learn. We can always learn from others mistakes or accomplishments even if we dislike them. We just need to listen and keep an open mind even when I know I'm being a snarky ass.

[@Ruylopez778]

I don't doubt you have much credibility, "hentaimonster"

[@hentaimonster]

​@@Ruylopez778am I supposed to? I didn't know criticism needed a degree. Let me get that peer reviewed KZbin comment out. You should take your head out of that smelly dark place it's shoved up so you can see it. 🙄

[@1badhaircut]

Matrix

[@SaschaRobitzki]

Who? Battlefield Earth (2000) and Love Kills (1991) are two of Corey Mandell's major works. He took home the Razzie for Worst Screenplay in 2001 for Battlefield Earth. I see.

[@filmcourage]

More on Battlefield Earth here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKiwlJpslKaIlck

[@ingrampowell9111]

A "High Concept" work is one which can be pitched with a succinctly expressed premise. "Slow Horses" is the epitome of High Concept. Anyone can make a mistake, but Mandell is a teacher and he has a responsibility to understand (which clearly he does not) the terms that he uses.

[@robertdouble559]

Chris Nolan, the king of high concept. And king of being overrated.

[@robertdouble559]

Rejects from an organization going against the people who fired them? Sounds pretty cliché to me.

[@bubblybull2463]

Well, if you start with the wrong definition of « high concept », dude, obviously, your answer has absolutely no value 🙄 Why do you keep asking this guy ? He has no clue. Litteraly… Next time you see him tell him to watch « Cube », « The Platform », « The box », « Escape room »… And then maybe give a call to Christopher Nolan and ask him about the concept of « high concept ». Hopefully he’ll learn a thing or two ? 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@PowersBenzoCoaching]

That was a horrible pitch. How about this, “the biggest great white shark ever seen by man terrorizes. a small town, devouring citizens, and a sheriff, a scientist, and shark hunter, have to find and kill it.” That sounds pretty damn cool. The way this guys is pitching it makes it sound dumb. I believe you can make anything sound dumb speaking this way. Terminator: a kid and his mom fight a robot from the future. (Sounds dumb) Star Wars: a green dwarf alien helps prepare a kid to fight his dad in space. 😂

[@aloknr2430]

Slow horses is basically ’Loser spies’ , and that IS highconcept. That’s what the show leans into as well . I personally disagree with Corey here.

[@WiLyO8]

‘

[@stephanc6138]

high concept is another word for gobblygook .... to make it sound intellectually up there....that nobody woyld dare crique for fear of] appearing stupid. aka like rhose tailors selling it in The Emperor's New Ckothes

[@kgoblin5084]

No, it isn't gobblygook... it just means the premise of the story can be easily summarized - like Jaws - 'horror movie - shark terrorizes new england town, 3 men go out in boat to kill it'. Groundhog Day - 'comedy, selfish, scroogy character has to repeat the same day over & over again until he becomes a better person'. It doesn't have to be a story with big, flashy spectacles... it just needs to be able to be summarizable. That's it. Hollywood likes high-concept stories because they can, by definition, be quickly pitched. They are literally the kinds of stories you can make a good elevator pitch for. Again, the premise doesn't have to be big or flashy... it just needs to be communicated to a producer in 5 minutes or less vs. 30+. The doofus in the video is using a totally wrong definition... said doofus also notably has only 2 film writing credits to this name & one of them is Battlefield Earth.

[@vapx0075]

@@kgoblin5084 YES. It's just the summary of the big story. If people don't come in for the high concept, they're not going to stay for the characters. If you don't have a high concept or it's "hard to define", you've got a problem with your PREMISE. It should be easy to explain, that's the whole point. Elevator pitch. Star Trek: Wagon ride to the stars. Heaps of people have gotten it right in the comments, some fall short because they're only describing some subsets of high concepts e.g. the story I'm writing is 'that, but the side character is the MC'.

[@blainemarcano]

He’s right. I’m always weary of things that are labeled after the fact.

[@travissparks48]

This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. No one would pitch Jaws like that and his concept of high concept is off the mark

[@asmith7812]

The Matrix is high concept- he is bias probably cause HE can’t write high concepts

[@myrapaulus727]

He talks so much but it mostly empty. What was the point of all of this? I'm afraid to imagine what kind of teacher this guy is.

[@angelmurphy6832]

He walked through the process of taking a concept and making it more interesting in only 8 minutes. He began to reveal the myth behind “high concept” in a way that is understandable- with modern examples. He’s a really good teacher and gives a ton of insight away for free.

[@steve-from-toronto]

Wth is he going on about lol. Fail.

[@bilalsarkac]

Breaking Bad is not high concept 🤷‍♂️

[@uniktbrukernavn]

"Teacher get cancer then starts making meth to pay for hospital bills" that's pretty high concept.

[@k-slay4407]

😂🤣😂 yeah that's high concept.

[@familycorvette]

@@uniktbrukernavn Actually, he made meth to leave money behind for his family. Public school teachers have the most generous health benefits on planet Earth.

[@uniktbrukernavn]

@@familycorvette My bad. Been a while since I've watched Breaking Bad. To be honest I prefer my "logline" :) Didn't realize BB was so...erhm...wholesome :)

[@bilalsarkac]

@@uniktbrukernavn later in this interview Corey actually mentions that Breaking Bad is NOT high concept, but 'hightened concept'.. which is a term used by himself, to point an aspect of the way of Shakespeare's storytelling.. if you go on to watch all video you'll see..

[@PositivePowerPeter]

Everybody wears platforms. Got it. “I believe in heightening.” Is he on drugs? @AmericasMansMan / GETTR