5 Steps to Crafting a Movie Premise Using the 'What If?' Formula

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When it comes to writing a movie, one of the most important elements is the premise. The premise is the central idea or concept upon which the story is built, and it's usually just a few sentences long. It's what hooks the audience and makes them want to learn more about the story.

One effective way to come up with a movie premise is to use the "what if?" formula. This formula involves starting with a question or a "what if" scenario, and then building a story around it.

Here are the five steps to creating a movie premise using the "what if?" formula:

• Start with a question or a "what if" scenario. This could be a hypothetical situation, a character or setting that you find interesting, or a problem that you want to explore.
• Develop the characters and setting. Who are the main characters in your story, and where does the story take place? What are their goals and motivations?
• Add the conflict. What obstacle or challenge is the main character facing? This could be a problem they need to solve, a person they need to defeat, or a situation they need to escape from.
• Describe the stakes. What is at risk if the main character fails to overcome the conflict? This could be their personal well-being, their relationships, or something else that is important to them.
• End with a hook. This is a short phrase or sentence that captures the attention of the reader and makes them want to learn more about the story.

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Here are six examples of movie premises using the "what if?" formula:

1. "What if a group of friends found a mysterious board game that sucked them into a real-life adventure?" - In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, a group of friends discover a mysterious board game called Jumanji and are sucked into the game, where they must complete a series of challenges in order to escape.
2. "What if a young boy discovered he was a wizard and had been accepted into a school for witchcraft and wizardry?" - In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a young boy named Harry discovers that he is a wizard and has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure.
3. "What if a group of friends vacationing on a yacht in the Mediterranean were kidnapped by a group of terrorists?" - In Taken, a group of friends vacationing on a yacht in the Mediterranean are kidnapped by a group of terrorists, and they must use their wits and resourcefulness to escape and survive.
4. "What if a family moved into a haunted house in rural Rhode Island?" - In The Conjuring, a family moves into a haunted house in rural Rhode Island and is terrorized by a dark and malevolent presence. They must turn to a team of paranormal investigators to uncover the secrets of the house and defeat the evil within.
5. "What if a group of coworkers at a tech company discovered that their company was secretly run by robots?" - In The Circle, a group of coworkers at a tech company discover that their company is secretly run by robots and must fight to take back control before it's too late.
6. "What if a young inventor traveled back in time and had to ensure that his parents fell in love in order to return to the present?" - In Back to the Future, a young inventor named Marty McFly travels back in time and must ensure that his parents fall in love in order to return to the present. Along the way, he encounters a younger version of his parents and must navigate the complications of time travel to set things right.

As you can see, the "what if?" formula is a simple and effective way to create a movie premise that is both compelling and engaging. By starting with a question or a "what if" scenario, developing the characters and setting, adding the conflict, describing the stakes, and ending with a hook, you can craft a premise that will draw the reader in and make them want to learn more about your story.