“What if.” Probably the two most important words in the story concept development process. I remember reading an interview with screenwriter James V. Hart in which he was having a meal with his family and one of his kids asked, “What if Peter Pan grew up?” Hart took that concept and co-wrote the screenplay for the movie Hook (1991).
So I thought it might fun to post an occasional “what if” scenario. For example, I was struck by this LA Times article today “50 is magic monkey number at Santa Ana Zoo:
Santa Ana has been running low on monkeys.For decades, the family that gave the city the land for its small but popular zoo has kept tabs on the primate population. The deal was 50 monkeys. Anything less and the city would lose the land.
But lately, the Santa Ana Zoo has fallen below the monkey line, and a descendant of city pioneer J.E. Prentice has threatened to take back the 12 acres if the population isn’t stabilized.
Zoo officials say it’s difficult to maintain the requisite number of monkeys. Animals die unexpectedly and waiting periods for endangered species breeding programs can last years. Even housing them all is a challenge.
“You can’t just go to Monkeys-R-Us or EBay to get monkeys,” said Kent Yamaguchi, interim director at the city zoo. “Populations of living things change, so certain things happen that you may not foresee because they’re living, breathing things.”
What if you work for a zoo? Or own a zoo? And you absolutely need to find / obtain / steal / buy 1 monkey to maintain the 50 level or you lose the lease on the land? Or 1 frisky monkey escapes and you go on an insane road trip to track him down? It’s Smokey and the Bandit meets Cheeta.
Speaking of Cheeta from the Tarzan movies, monkeys have a long history in Hwood cinema.
What if it’s time to resurrect this sub-genre?
How would you develop this monkey article into a commercial story concept?
I’ve already written a “monkey” sceenplay. It’s called, “Give It Up for Chimpy.”
Logline: A man parlays his ability to interprit for a special case monkey to host a late night talk show where the woman of his dreams works.
Like that? Well-p, if you do, I’ve already written its sequel as well. It’s called, “Love, Music, and Monkeys.”
Logline: A budding model and her ex-boyfriend’s lives keep intersecting as they try to rescue Monkey Man from the clutches of an evil used car salesmen.
Currently, there is the upcoming movie entittled, “Zookeeper” in production. Scott, were you aware of that?
Zookeeper (2010) logline: The animals at one particular zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman.
VERY similar to mine. Makes me wonder if MY story inspired theres… I wrote “Give It Up for Chimpy” on my own, It isn’t based on ANY pre-existing movie. I copywrite protected both stories, and the WGA just sent me a registration update warning for “Give It Up for Chimpy.”
Anyway… Still geeked about the story. Sometimes in the mirror I role play for Chimpy, as he has a habit of acting pretty bizzare. Would LOVE to get Jennifer Love Hewitt attached to star as the story’s heroin, Stacy Dutchmen, and maybe even hook her fiance, Ross McCall to play, Brandon Little, the zookeeper who finds he has the ability to interprit for that special case monkey, Chimpy/Monkey Man.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
What if one of the scientists/vets at the zoo begins to clone monkeys to insure a stable supply??
And what if these monkeys morph/evolve into something more than regular chimps??
What if they escape??
Keep Writing!