synopsis Synopsis help

[derek smith]

Sent a Synopsis to a Producer, and got this reply in an email

'I’d love to get a sense of how the events work narratively – e.g. with a horror there’s always humour as a counterpoint. That’s the kind of description of the storytelling style, pace, personalities etc I’m looking to see in a synopsis. The plot points you’ve sent are great, but don’t give me any sense of who/how – which is a key part of the appeal.



Here’s a good example of one: http://sixmilehill.co.uk/boysfromcountyhell/

Can someone give me some pointers, as the Synopsis I orginaly sent, was a generally description of the story of the film etc...A bit lost on what to produce.....Thanks

 

[Filman]

Character development.

 

[derek smith]

Character development.

you mean, when writing the Synopsis, instead of doing a complete summarisation of what happens, aim more about including only the main plot points and the characters personality during the film?

 

[Filman]

Or: instead of more the less only listing the events after another, show that the storytelling TRULY WORKS. Excite the reader. Or if it's a horror project SCARE the reader who reads your synopsis.

 

[Sweetie]

aim more about including only the main plot points

While it might not make sense, there are multiple courses that state "Plot = Character Development and Character Development = Plot" It's only to be taken within the context of character development.

and the characters personality during the film?

Basics of the personality should have already been included in the synopsis.

That's all beside the point. It sounds like your producer friend is telling you that your synopsis is lacking. By the sound of her comment, you included the story points though you left the soul of the story out of the synopsis. In other words you didn't answer the question: What are the elements that will make the audience follow protagonist through their journey.

 

[derek smith]

While it might not make sense, there are multiple courses that state "Plot = Character Development and Character Development = Plot" It's only to be taken within the context of character development.



Basics of the personality should have already been included in the synopsis.

That's all beside the point. It sounds like your producer friend is telling you that your synopsis is lacking. By the sound of her comment, you included the story points though you left the soul of the story out of the synopsis. In other words you didn't answer the question: What are the elements that will make the audience follow protagonist through their journey.

yeah, that makes a lot of sense....I've normally based my Synopsis after what you would find on a films 'Wikipedia page'...which is basically a run through of the film....but the link she provided, the synopsis describes the character abit more while describing the story....Sweetie, the link I provided, would that be a Synopsis you would deem 'interesting'???

 

[Sweetie]

would that be a Synopsis you would deem 'interesting'???

It's never a good sign when you lose interest while reading the logline. For me, the synopsis is lacking depth. On top of that it's for a genre that typically doesn't interest me. That being said, the link you sent was for a short film. Short films are different.

Have you considered that the producer in question doesn't know as much as you think they know? If that's the case, they may "sense" a problem in the synopsis and have no clue what the problem is or how to tell you how to fix it.