CONCEPTUALIZING
THE CONCEPT OF
STORY
CONCEPT WRITING
Let me start by saying that Concept
Writing is a simple term that cannot be defined in simple terms.
I saw its potentials and the
possibilities it can bring after Marvel started producing one superhero film
after another. It gave me the “concept” to conceptualize. Yes, to use this in
my works, both as a writer and engineer.
If you notice, the Marvel films are
interlocking. It’s like galaxies and constellations in the universe (MCU) – the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The succeeding film, though has a different lead cast and
separate storyline, may be viewed as the sequel of the previous film. At first,
you see Hulk (2003) and The Incredible Hulk (2008), two Iron Man (2008 and 2010), Thor (2011), and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Then came The Avengers (2012), which was hinted in
Iron Man and Thor. Next came three separate films, Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: The
Dark World (2013), Captain America:
Winter Soldier (2014), followed by Avengers:
Age of Ultron (2015). Then again, separately, there’s Ant Man (2015), which connected to Captain America: Civil War (2016), where the Hulk and Thor were
conspicuously absent because as the “connected” story goes, they were in
another galaxy as shown in Thor: Ragnarok
(2017). Doctor Strange (2016) came prior to Thor’s third installment as
seen in the teaser at the end of the film. Let’s not forget Guardians of the Galaxy 1 (2014) and 2 (2017), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and Black Panther (2018), which were shown taking off after Captain America: Civil War. All in all
20 films, all connecting to Avengers:
Infinity War (2018). In the comics world, this is called an interlocking crossover.
Concept writing, however, is more than
just thinking of doing a crossover. You can visualize it as the combination of
crossovers, What ifs, Tales of the Unexpected, and numerous
other possibilities. Yes, endless possibilities, in fact!
The huge difference between comics and
films, however, is that in printed publication, the number of characters and
scenarios are almost limitless. While in films, the more characters there are,
the more difficult the production becomes. It is, however, a general rule that
the storyline of a film does not veer too far away from its comics origin.
Concept writing is a very useful tool in this effect.
Concept writing, if you remember, was
only used before for consumer products: “What products would sell?” and “How to
market them?” Now it is being extensively use in novels, TV series and films,
and even in different kinds of propaganda.
Comic books have employed the idea in
many occasions. Now, even literary creations are incorporating it. Even now as
they read this, authors would be planning on writing separate stories – novels
– that will merged into one. Fascinating possibilities!
Today’s television series take years
of conceptualizing, merging different scenarios, taking into account all the
possibilities into the storyline. It is the ultimate ingredient for a
groundbreaking TV blockbuster.
Take the case of Game of Thrones. It took several years before George R.R. Martin’s
book A Song of Ice and Fire was made
into a TV series. Each season takes a year or more to produce. Each episode has
scenes and sequences being filmed in three or four locations around Europe and
the Middle East. Imagine the brainstorming behind them. That is why it is the
biggest TV hit ever. Almost all the actors and crews grew up and aged doing the
series. And they all got rich!
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, concept writing is a huge part of both pre-production and
post-production. That is why they are lightyears, nay a universe, ahead of D.C.
As early as the first Hulk and Iron Man films, the concept for future Marvel films was already
incorporated. Notice that in every Marvel film, there is a teaser at the end of
the credits pointing to the possible crossover.
As I have pointed earlier, one Marvel
superhero films connects one to another, and they converged to Avengers: Infinity War. The “concept,”
however, is still open. Can you now connect the X-Men and Fantastic 4
film series to Avengers: Infinity War 2,
and even to a Part 3? And beyond, further, into Avengers: Galactic Storm? How about an Adam Warlock and a Captain
Marvel films to spice the storyline more?
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