Family Affairs
"An entitled man-child has one night to pay back a criminal debt, so he robs his own family?s restaurant."
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Really like it. The one thing I would be more specific with is the debt. Some clarity would be great, his bookmaker or loan shark, something that gives us clarity.
You could try you add motivation around why he has the debt or something around the criminal, but I think it works well without it.
I have no reason to like the lead character. Even if the lead is a villain there has to be a reason to like him.
If there is some reason in your story to like the lead character then it should be in the logline.
I agree with Richiev — there is no reason to sympathize with the lead. I think changing the descriptor “Entitled Man-Child” might be a way of making him sound more ‘likable’/ empathetic… and/ or, you could be more specific in how he actually finds himself in his predicament. At the moment, he comes across as selfish, immature, and his debt was incurred in an amoral way (what I get from ‘criminal debt’) — I’d want to see this guy fail (that could very well be your intention — I don’t know…)
Also — he comes up against no opposition in his quest to rob from his own family? With 10 or so words up your sleeve you have some room to present an antagonist, as well as present the plight of your lead in a better light by being more specific about his predicament.
Below is just an example — not supposed to be entirely reflective of your plot… obviously…
“A lazy door to door salesman attempts to hold up his Father?s restaurant to repay the debt he incurred to a vicious loan shark that paid for his father?s restaurant?s renovations.”
As Richiev and Tony Edward said.
Except, it isn’t always necessary to like the main character or sympathize with him. What is necessary is for the character to be compelling and interesting, his predicament urgent enough to keep us engaged even when we don’t like him.
I personally find nothing in the character, or his predicament, or his choice to engage my interest. Certainly not my sympathy. He comes across as an immature weak character, lacking in scruples as well as cajones. Given the mistake he’s made, gotten in the hock to a loan shark, this is his strongest choice?
Agreed with the above, also why now? What made him need to pay back his debt at this point in time?
This feeds into previous comments, what is the inciting incident? You could use the inciting incident to create a ticking time bomb for the MC and add a sense of urgency.
Additionally as previously mentioned the MC needs a better character description and a good flaw to over come seeing as he is mostly un likeable to start off with. As DPG said he does’t have to be likeable so in the case of this story the inner journey is vital for audience empathy. But best to give him an inner goal that overcoming will be an obstacle to achieving the outer goal.
Hope this helps.