1. Posted: March 24, 2018In:

    When four men are hired to deliver nitroglyrcering shipment at a remote oil field, they can make no mistakes if they are to deliver the dangerous cargo alive. – Wages of Fear

    dpg Singularity

    A rough cut, but:Desperate to earn enough money to escape a remote jungle village, four men accept a good paying but dangerous job -- transport nitroglycerin over rugged roads to an oil field. (30 words)The movie is adapted from a best-selling French novel by Georges Armaud.? IOW: the success of theRead more

    A rough cut, but:

    Desperate to earn enough money to escape a remote jungle village, four men accept a good paying but dangerous job — transport nitroglycerin over rugged roads to an oil field.
    (30 words)

    The movie is adapted from a best-selling French novel by Georges Armaud.? IOW: the success of the novel pre-sold the concept as a movie.? Which was a box office? hit movie in France.? Consequently, it inspired an American knock-off, “Sorcerer” (1977)

    As to what single character should be designated as the protagonist, I think this is one movie that qualifies as an exception to the rule.? It’s? the story of a motley crew.? Once they start on their perilous journey, the story narrows down to just the 4 men

    I’m okay with four protagonists because they are all struggling to achieve one objective goal — the film upholds Aristotle’s dictum of unity of plot action.

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  2. Posted: March 25, 2018In:

    After recruitment, a DSA agent takes on the toughest cases that are thrown at her, while trying to maintain a relationship with her handsome, yet computer-nerd boyfriend.

    dpg Singularity

    The series concept requires a writer to have technical knowledge of computer operations, network security and an understanding of the culture and m.o. of the NSA.? Otherwise, it'll come off as bogus as a $3 dollar bill.

    The series concept requires a writer to have technical knowledge of computer operations, network security and an understanding of the culture and m.o. of the NSA.? Otherwise, it’ll come off as bogus as a $3 dollar bill.

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  3. Posted: March 22, 2018In:

    When an American painter in Paris is discovered by an influential heiress, he has to deal with her and his rival friend if he is to date his true love.

    dpg Singularity

    >>>why did you left out what the protagonist has to do, to end up with the french girl?I saw the film many years ago and my recall of the details of the plot are fragmentary.? Perhaps I should have consulted the IMDB summary.? Frankly, I fast forwarded through scenes to get to the good stufRead more

    >>>why did you left out what the protagonist has to do, to end up with the french girl?

    I saw the film many years ago and my recall of the details of the plot are fragmentary.? Perhaps I should have consulted the IMDB summary.? Frankly, I fast forwarded through scenes to get to the good stuff, Gershwin’s music.? The plot was too contrived for my taste.? It was so obvious that the? inspiration for the movie was Gershwin’s music, a reverse of the usual m.o. where the script is the inspiration for the musical score.

    And the organizing principle for the plot (per my earlier comment on “The Sting”) is the love triangle.? That’s the story spine around which all the other characters, complications and subplots are arrayed.? After all, it’s a musical romance.? He obviously woos her,? but if that wooing is framed within a particular game plan, I don’t recall.? Any particulars you may wish to point out on that point would be of interest.

    Finally, I have come to the conclusion that romance genre stories may present exceptions to the standard logline paradigm.? Because the organizing principle — the spine — is as much or more the relationship as it is the action.? In some stories, the objective goal is to win the heart of the love interest, to consummate the relationship with a happy ending. That’s the only goal that matters.? (How else can you logline adaptations of Jane Autsen novels?)?

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