How to Make Your Film Feel Fresh

Some say that every story that’s ever been written, or every film ever produced, can be boiled down to only seven basic plots. Some say four; others six. Whatever the number, the point is that if you have an idea for a script, the probability is high that another filmmaker has already done it.

If you find this thought depressing, don’t worry. The point of this post is not to encourage you to work harder until you come up with the most original idea ever; The point is to focus on execution not originality. What makes a film ground-breaking or revolutionary (I would argue) is not necessarily the plot itself, but how the filmmaker executes that plot through storytelling techniques.

I recently attended The Magnolia Independent Film Festival where my short film Hangry was screening. While there I saw Baghead, an incredible short film that takes a familiar plot and executes it in a way that feels fresh, intriguing, and thrilling. The short has been so successful on the festival circuit that it’s been acquired by a studio as a feature. I don’t want to give away any spoilers for the film, but here is the main thing to consider as you try to execute your own story ideas:

Bend genres

This is the one thing Baghead does so well. The filmmaker takes a plot that we’ve all seen before in dramatic films and turns it into a creepy thriller. Do you have an idea for a tragic film? How about making it into a black comedy? Do you have an idea for an odd-couple-buddy-film? Can you turn that into a gritty noir?

One of the best things you can do as a filmmaker is to subvert expectations. Audiences will tune out quickly if they find your story beats and execution predictable.

Have any other suggestions for keeping films fresh? If so, leave your thoughts in the Comments section. In the meantime, be sure to check out Baghead if you have the chance.