Kelowna Film Studios is Looking for Thriller Scripts
Kelowna Film Studios is partnering with a production company that is looking for Thrillers.
What we look for in our thrillers:
Strong female characters with agency. Female protagonist needs to be coming from a place of power even when in peril to consider how to empower our leads.
This can happen to you” and “inspired by true events/story” should fuel your concept in a way that will connect with audiences instantly.
Strong stakes and compelling, realistic characters with real dramatic tension.
Bring in viewers with the familiarity of an idea but then surprise them with the unexpected.
Antagonists with clear motivations
Surprise twists
Act 1 is critical – makes or breaks the movie so needs to open and close in the most impactful way that instantly hooks the viewer.
Plot needs to be a fast-paced action thrill ride at every turn – the faster the
better.
Plot needs to build suspense and generate tension in every scene in a way that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats needing to know what happens next.
Not looking for stunt heavy or vehicle dependent action sequences but need more
action and less talk.
Some themes we’re interested in exploring: fear and loss of identity, home, job, loved ones, sanity, health; romantic entanglements/cons, identity scams, fertility/pregnancy scams, real estate scams, AI/technology scams.
We are not looking for:
No to Whodunit-type mysteries. (Need more of a Whydunit. It’s better if we know who the antagonist is early on and then add a surprise plot twist we didn’t see coming.)
Slow burn stories. (Instead we need character-driven thrill rides which have the viewer on edge so that each cliffhanger at the end of every act must ramp up the stakes.)
Questions that need to be answered in both logline & synopsis:
What is the real life case that’s inspiring the fictionalized story?
What's the way into the story based on the case?
How, where, and when do we begin the story?
Who is the main character and what does she want and need?
What happens if she doesn’t succeed? What’s at stake?
Who is the antagonist and what do they want?
What’s the core conflict between the leads?
What is the thematic engine driving the story forward?
Script metrics:
95 pages ideal - but always under 100
7-10 characters, all inclusive of speaking parts
75 scenes max
Under 10 locations (both interiors and exteriors) - maximize the use of one location
Limit driving, stunts, VFX/SFX
12-13 day shoot
What we need from you:
A "2-pager" is a concise document designed to give a reader a comprehensive overview of a project—in this case, a film or TV proposal—within just two pages. It's often used in the early stages of pitching to provide producers, distributors, or potential investors with a snapshot of the project's concept, appeal, and feasibility.
Page 1: Concept Overview and Story Synopsis
Title: Clearly state the working title of the thriller.
Logline: A concise summary capturing the essence of the thriller, focusing on the main conflict and the protagonist's struggle.
Synopsis: A brief, engaging overview highlighting:
The "This can happen to you" aspect or real-life event that inspired the story.
The female protagonist's journey from a position of power, facing and overcoming peril.
Key plot points that showcase fast-paced action, strong stakes, suspense building, and the critical Act 1 that hooks the viewer.
The antagonist’s clear motivations and the core conflict.
Unexpected twists and turns that subvert viewer expectations.
Page 2: Creative and Practical Elements
Characters:
Lead Character: Description of the female protagonist, emphasizing her agency, desires, and the stakes if she fails. Highlight how she embodies power even in challenging circumstances.
Antagonist: Brief outline of the antagonist's character, motivations, and what makes them a formidable opponent.
Supporting Characters: Sketches of key figures who add depth to the story, their roles in enhancing the suspense and aiding the protagonist.
Setting: Description of the main settings, underlining how they contribute to the thriller's atmosphere, with a note on maximizing one location to build tension.
Tone and Style: Elaborate on how the film will maintain tension and suspense in every scene, ensuring a fast-paced narrative that keeps viewers engaged and on edge.
Marketability: Discuss the unique aspects that will attract viewers, focusing on the thriller’s basis in real-life events and the incorporation of unexpected plot twists.
Feasibility:
Overview of script metrics ensuring adherence to the specifications, particularly the emphasis on a fast-paced plot over action-stunt sequences.
Production considerations highlighting how to achieve suspense and engagement within the set parameters of characters, scenes, and locations.
Comparative Titles: Reference similar thrillers, pointing out what sets your project apart and how it aligns with or diverges from current trends we are interested in.
Themes and Real-life Inspirations: Address specific themes of interest (e.g., identity scams, AI/technology), and detail the real-life case inspiring the story, enhancing authenticity and relatability.
Additional Tips:
Clarity and Brevity: Ensure the proposal is concise yet thorough, clearly conveying the film's thrilling aspects and alignment with the criteria.
Emphasize Suspense and Real-life Anchoring: Tailor the 2-pager to highlight the suspenseful, action-packed narrative and real-life inspiration.
Visual Elements: Consider including mood boards or visual references that convey the thriller's tone, setting, or style, making the proposal visually compelling.
Focus on Female Protagonist: Emphasize the strength and agency of the female lead, showcasing her as a character coming from a place of power, as this is a crucial element.
What you can count on from us:
We will help you produce the 2-pager to get it in front of our partners, taking no ownership nor percentage of writing wages. This is for the writer only. Our goal is co-produce the film in the Okanagan, using Okanagan locations, crew, actors and post-production and we’d like to do in hand-in-hand with your script.
As producers, we will also work with you to develop the 2-pager, such as helping with points 5-8 in “Creative and Practical Elements,” since the research goes beyond script writing and into marketing and distribution.
How to get in touch:
If you have a script, a 2-pager or any questions about this process, please email us at: scripts@kelownafilmstudios.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!