–
thedarkhorseSamurai
A reformed sex addict, suffering intimacy problems with a woman who offers him stability, returns to his former psychiatrist, a twisted and manipulative woman for whom he might still be madly in love with.
Share
Have an account? Sign In Now
Hey DPG,
Hmm. That is a point. He only really becomes reformed once we reach Act 2 of the pilot. Perhaps for the pilot logline: “A sex addict, unable to be intimate with a woman who offers stability…” (He does malfunction at one point, but before that he subconsciously pushes her away. )
He?s not really a schmuck. Or at least I never saw Fassbender in ?Shame? as a shmuck. It?s as much about his relationship with women and inability to be vulnerable. It?s about the story beneath his sex addiction – the big why. The cause of it. The fact he?s attracted to some weird brutal things. The way he treats women and compartmentalises them – and how he steadily learns to respect them and treat them equally (that’s gotta be relevant in this post-Weinstein era). As people.
Throughout the pilot, he?s emotionally detached, emotionally self serving and emotionally numb. He wants to live authentically. A real life. Real love. Real relationships. What he has with Celine is still fantasy – he?s attached himself to a woman who will never reject him, who he has nothing in common with, etc.?
Not necessarily. What they have is constantly shifting. They both continuously switch between predator and prey, and get off on this constantly shifting power play. And again, it is dangerous, unethical and illegal for doctor and patient to be doing stuff together. Though she gets off on being in control, playing with his mind – he?s still dominant and controlling.
I was inspired by ?Dangerous Liaisons? – these two cruel aristocrats playing games with each other and other people. The protagonist seduces an innocent woman, falls in love with her in the process, etc.
Throughout the series, he?s made to confront his issues with power, dominance and control; why he is aroused by savagely cruel behaviour and what made him that way.?
I?ll keep in mind your 2.5 cents though. Last producer/manager who was interested in my stuff – asked if I had anything with strong female protagonists.?
As for the hook – that?s what I?m trying to get to the bottom of. Is sex and psychology (or the psychology of sex) not a hook? I mean it dissects the mother whore complex.?
>>>A reformed sex addict
Say what? A logline should describe the state of the character at the start of the story. According to your synopsis, he is anything but “reformed” at the start of the story.
>>>Matilda then tells him that to cure himself he must return to being her patient ? and become dependent upon her and submissive. With great difficulty, Sean agrees and surrenders to her control.
So Matilda seems to takes over the driver’s seat of the plot. Since she is dominating/manipulating him, why isn’t she the protagonist?
Frankly, I think a series centered around the manipulative female sex therapist with a rich, glamorous and kinky clientele would be more marketable than one about a sleazy schmuck, addicted to sex and the fantasy world of porn, who can be manipulated by other women.
Again (and ad nauseum,)I ask what for me is the fundamental question:? what is your story hook?? More specifically for this story, who is the story hook?? Who is the more interesting character for the long haul of a series??
But if you’re already locked into the script you’ve written., well…
My 2.5 cents worth.
Quick synopsis of pilot:
Los Angeles. SEAN DIVINE (45) is, by day, a plastic surgeon to the rich and famous, and by night, a depraved sex addict. He seemingly has it all: an upscale bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills; a practice in Beverly Hills; and an extensive harem of lovers and admirers.
During a high society event, Sean comes across an old flame, his former psychiatrist, MATILDA HAZELL (40), with whom he shares a complicated history. Matilda immediately rejects his advances; reluctant to engage in a doctor-patient affair as it would be unethical, illegal, and dangerous. Heartbroken, Sean numbs himself the only way he knows how: meaningless sex.
Soon, Sean becomes increasingly addicted as sex becomes a means to cope with his hectic and stressful life during the day. And to help manage his secret life, he begins to develop routines and systems to stay organized: ranging from OCD levels of perfectionism to extreme cleanliness to obsessive paranoia.
Furthermore, Sean starts screening his prostitutes and obsessively searches for the exact qualities he?s looking for in a woman. Finally, he comes across MATILDA LOOKALIKE (40) and begins to act out his sordid sexual fantasies with her.
Meanwhile, Sean is increasingly harassed by a former lover, the “BRUNETTE” (20), who stalks him and later tells him she is pregnant. After finding out she’s been manipulating him, Sean ignores her pleas for help, and days later finds out she has committed suicide. Filled with shame and self-loathing, he numbs himself with the most depraved sex act imaginable.
After hitting rock bottom, Sean decides to go cold turkey and aims to do three months of abstinence. Before long, he unexpectedly falls for CELINE WILLIAMS (35), a sweet and simple waitress, and is convinced he has met his perfect woman.
As Sean counts the days, he begins to sublimate his sexual energy into more useful, productive pursuits and takes on pro bono jobs that challenge him. And soon, Celine and her son Chris (10) move in with Sean, who makes a conscious effort never to tell her of his sordid past. Moreover, Sean begins to sculpt and make Celine into his perfect woman, and to his gratification, she willingly surrenders to his control.
One night, Sean comes home to Celine who has grown more into her role of surrogate wife and mother-figure; and is desperate to consummate their relationship. To make matters worse, they are unexpectedly visited by Matilda, who deliberately reveals that Sean was a former patient.
Later, Sean drives Matilda home and finds out she returned because she wants to finish the therapy session they started years ago. Reluctant, Sean asks her to leave him alone as he does not want to pry into his dark and painful past.
As time goes by, Sean feels trapped in his relationship with Celine and grows depressed when she does not live up to his idea of the perfect woman. One night, Sean?s sexual urges get the better of him, and he makes a move on Celine; and to his surprise, she enjoys it and wants more. However, Sean is unable to get an erection. Terrified, he drives to Matilda?s oceanfront house in Malibu, desperate for answers.
Later that night, Celine comes across Sean?s hard drive and finds out it is brimming with years of hard-core porn and deranged sex-tapes that he made. Simultaneously, Celine is repulsed and curious, and to her surprise ? begins to masturbate.
Meanwhile, during Sean?s therapy session with Matilda, she reveals that he suffers from Madonna-Whore syndrome; he loves without sex and has sex without love.
Matilda then tells him that to cure himself he must return to being her patient – and become dependent upon her and submissive. With great difficulty, Sean agrees and surrenders to her control.
Pilot logline:
A reformed sex addict, suffering intimacy problems with a woman who offers him stability, returns to his former psychiatrist, a twisted and manipulative woman for whom he might still be madly in love with.
(This was logline 4 and I think it best sums up the pilot).
Hi everyone. Once again, I want to get an official logline for “Restless”.
SERIES LOGLINE: (for 8 episode limited series).
A rich, successful doctor with a debilitating sex addiction becomes entangled in kinky and increasingly dangerous power games with his sexy psychiatrist.
(This was logline 1). I can’t help but think it best sums up the series and I should use it as the series logline.
Formula 1:?
When a major event happens, the hero must do the main action.
Unable to have sex with the woman he loves, a reformed sex addict returns to his former psychiatrist, whom he becomes entangled in kinky and increasingly dangerous power games with.
Formula 2:
Title is a genre about protagonist who must do (goal) or else (disaster will happen if he doesn?t succeed).
RESTLESS is a black comedy about a reformed sex addict who must return to his former psychiatrist, a twisted and manipulative woman, or else he will never be able to have sex with the woman he loves. (This one doesn?t work at all).
Formula 3:
Logline must have:
1. Who the story is about.
2. What he strives for.
3. What stands in his way (the antagonistic force/stakes).
A reformed sex addict, suffering intimacy issues with a woman who offers him stability, returns to his former psychiatrist, a twisted and manipulative woman for whom he might still be madly in love with. (This was logline 4). Specific. But not very lean.