I'm trying to get a rather complicated family values story pulled together - it goes like this:
A famed country singer lost his family to career, lost that to alcohol, suffered through rehabilitation and now attempts a comeback as a struggling young performer is charting her way in that industry.
Colt and Tori is a tale of defeating the apprehension that exists between generations, the loss, recovery, overcoming self doubts to succeed; it's about family values.
I need a first act hook and I'm trying to iron out a few wrinkles; any ideas?
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I like the story and themes, Doug Nelson! What if Colt and Tori meet and end up really not liking each other, then they go to an event that night/another day where a big music producer wants them to be a duo.
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That's what I was thinking Maurice Vaughan . They are at the same record label and the suggestion has been made for them to do a duet on her debut album. Her father/manager is against it because although he is/was a fan of Colt is his heyday, he does not want his daughter associated with a drunken has been. That's where some family values come in and a conflict: how much does the daughter "owe" her father who has steered her career from the beginning?
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Guys; interesting points for sure. What I'm looking for right now is an opening scene HOOK that latches on to the 50+ year old audience and the 20 something crowd. I'm parsing Colt's background out moving from act I/act II. Reveal: Colt married young & had a daughter - his wife divorced him, took the child, immediately remarried. Colt never knew his daughter. Tori was abused by her stepfather and is now a lesbian. Reveal - Tori is Colt's daughter (midpoint or late act II). Older generation must deal with homosexually, younger generation must deal with older attitudes for them to unite and go on to success. (Spoiler: They do).
I need a hook!
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Opening could start with his status quo as an alcoholic, then he does something so bad he realizes he can’t get better without rehab. So the break into two is going into rehab.
When to introduce Tori? Could be at the label or at a show while he’s drunk. Some connection is made. Then she’s the only one who comes to visit him in rehab.
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I like Mike's hook for an opening, Doug Nelson. Or you could show small pieces of Colt and Tori's futures as an opening. Like a short flash forward montage.
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Doug Nelson this is a very interesting premise for a work. I will think on this and try to help you move this story forward.
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Does she know that court is her father and is he doing 12 step to make amends make amends to people that he is hurt
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if colt is going through making amends, maybe her manager is one of the people that he needs to make amends? to ask forgiveness to because he beat the hell out of them in a drunken rage back in the day when he was really famous, and he could get away with murder .. now he has to rebuild his life and nobody wants to have anything to do with him .for and her manager does not want her to meet him because all the manager sees him as is an old, angry drunk he is a disaster, waiting to happen, and then let the games Begin
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Thoughts: Make the singer female-like a loretta lynn who reunites with a daughter she gave up for her adoption early in a career when being unwed and having a baby was taboo. She initially refuses the daughter's help but then hears her sing and gets clean and focuses on the daughters career.
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Whoops – change of plan; happens when you git to brainstorming. Tori is not Colt's daughter. That would be too much of a cliched fantasy. But I'm not gonna tell the audience, I prefer misleading 'em.
Remember that Colt's been through rehab - he's clean & sober now but wants to return to the glory & fame days in a changed industry. His lost daughter is his ghost that drives his compassion. Tori is a lost lesbian young'un also striving for that fame & glory.
Anyway - keep the ideas flowing.
Thanx