An ex couple accidentally gets locked in the basement at a New Years Party and are forced to speak about their past, present and future.

If they are exes then (to me) the obvious time bomb is that someone is going to (re)marry very soon. Maybe the next day?
Don't know how to throw that in a concise line though-

"When former lovers accidentally lock themselves in a basement during a New Years party they are forced to speak about their past, present and an immanent wedding."

That's still off a little but do you see what I'm getting at? A marriage of one of them to someone else would be like a bomb to their relationship.

Does it sound compelling? Because I was originally thinking that but I didn't think as far as a short film..if it would stick and keeps people attention.

Yea, sort of but modern day version with a twist.

Two former lovers accidentally gets locked in the basement at a New Years Party and tries to get closure before one of them leaves the country ? forever!
The best example I got unless there is actually a ticking time bomb in the basement :O

Two former lovers accidentally gets locked in the basement at a New Years Party and tries to get closure before one of them leaves the country ... forever!

The best example I got unless their is actually a ticking time bomb in the basement :O

Can you give me some examples of time bomb in that situation? please

I like former lovers. I wasn't sure how to get the right term for the log line. I appreciate the feedback. I am looking to shoot a short film.

I was going for drama but comedy could work.

Yes, I was going for a short. I do appreciate the feedback. I was thinking of a way to make it more compelling as far keeping the audiences attention.

Yeah, the story would benefit from ticking time bomb as in "Phone Booth" to raise the stakes and escalate tension. No stakes+ No escalating tension = boredom. And boring an audience is the one unforgivable sin in cinema.

Yeah, the story would benefit from ticking time bomb as in "Phone Booth" to raise the stakes and escalate tension. No stakes+ No escalating tension = boredom. And boring an audience is the one unforgivable sin in cinema.

Could you add a "ticking time bomb" that relates to their relationship with a mystery for them to solve and raise the stakes that way. To make this work look at Phone Booth and see how they sustained the tension in that premise. Otherwise as DPG said it doesn't sound compelling as a concept for film.

Hope this helps.

Is this a short or a feature film? Or is it a stage play?

If it's to be a feature film then what is so compelling and interesting about the concept that people will want to pay good money to sit there and watch 2 people go nowhere, do nothing but talk for 90 minutes? Film is first and foremost a visual medium, a medium where action takes precedence over words.

Is this a short or a feature film? Or is it a stage play?

If it's to be a feature film then what is so compelling and interesting about the concept that people will want to pay good money to sit there and watch 2 people go nowhere, do nothing but talk for 90 minutes? Film is first and foremost a visual medium, a medium where action takes precedence over words.

"Ex couple" seems klunky. Are they 'former lovers', 'divorced couple' college/high school sweethearts? Just thinking something a bit more descriptive would serve you better.

Now the movie that flashed before my eyes was a Christmas Carol version. My 30 word rewrite:

Former lovers, trapped in a wine cellar at a New Years Party, are visited by the spirits of New Year's past, present and future. and must face some sobering conclusions.

New Years' past played by a older version of he guy.
New Year's present played by a hot current version of the girl.
New Years' futured played by a baby - theirs if....

and the spirits can pop out of bottles of wine as they open them. Could be a themed movie with alcohol abuse tied into it starting with college binge/party drinking, moving up to post college 'social/business drinking/to their future...

Wicked twist: Their bodies are found the next New Year's Eve (they were in an abandoned chalet). They survived a few months on the 'provisions; in the cellar. Autopsy reveals she was impregnated that night.

Okay, that was fun

Is it a comedy, drama, or something else? Hard to tell. Something like War of the Roses.

So, kind of like When Harry Met Sally told in flashbacks?