The High Concept Movie

Have you ever sat down to watch a film and then half way through get the

feeling you have seen it before?

The chances are you probably haven’t seen this film but many many like it.

It has been noted that every film we see has a formula and there are basically around seven or eight stories that have been told in thousands of different ways with only character names, locations, and small details changed.

With their one-line pitch, instant iconography, easy marketability and consumer appeal, and star-name, they introduced cinemagoers to bite-size movies. Welcome to the high-concept movie. They are easily recognisable and easily digested.

Essentially, the high-concept movie is:

Where the plot can be summed up in a sentence or two

Where a simple title tells you most or everything you need to know about

the film

And based on an idea that breeds easy-to-sell marketability. This includes

everything from soundtracks and tie-in pop music, star vehicles and

franchises, consumer goods, and dominant, impact-inspired themes

Every high-concept movie includes very similar things in its formula:There’s a predominant theme of good versus evil which always sells, with the main character having to face a major problem. They also feature the extraordinary in either the character or the situation, but one is so dominant it fights against the other to create obvious and seemingly unstoppable conflict.

They deal with broad themes that are recognisable to any type of filmgoer, who can, whether they are male or female, black or white, English-speaking or not, identify with such themes. Lost love, war, fear, life and death, family, and honour, are all dominant within the films themselves. Examples would include Jaws (fear, death), Top Gun (honour), Pearl Harbor and Saving Private Ryan (war, honour).

Global appeal

• Main issue is accessible to all

• Weather• Global warming• Love story

Global Appeal

• Gay cowboys do not fill cinemas

Good v Evil

Culture neutral

• Offends no body• Assumes no cultural knowledge

Love interest

• Love universal• Sex sells• Romeo and Juliet• Love against the odds

Simple characterisations

• Easy to understand• Straightforward• Understandable • Uses stereotypes• Does not mess with

stereotypes

Stereotypes

In many cases a star-name is used to draw more popularity to the film Tom Hanks

(Turner and hooch), Keanu Reeves (Speed), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop).

The Star

Expensive but are they a Guarantee?

The most dominant Hollywood directors of the past twenty years, Spielberg, Tony Scott, David Fincher, James Cameron, Stephen Sommers, Simon West and Michael Bay have all based their careers around high-concept films.

The Director

‘Top Ten Films’ website has stated that these are the top ten ‘High Concept’ movies of all time

Play

What characteristics make Armageddon a ‘High Concept’ movie from the opening 10 minutes

What characteristics make Avatar a ‘High Concept’ movie from the trailer

Are High Concept movies good for the future of cinema?

YES - NO

Activity 1

You are required to research into a High Concept movie and discuss why it can be classed as such. You must complete a documentation titled ‘The High Concept Movie’ Your documentation should consist of: Definition of a High Concept FilmMasters of the high Concept film (Directors who survive of creating high concept movies)A list of what you believe to be the top ten High Concept moviesConclude with YOUR opinion of ‘High Concept’ Hollywood

Activity 2 / Homework