What does High Concept Idea mean?
High Concept Idea refers to a story premise that can be summarized in a single compelling sentence — a concept so clear, original, and commercially appealing that it immediately communicates the film’s entire premise, audience appeal, and marketability. High concept ideas are highly valued in Hollywood because they are easy to pitch, easy to market, and easy for audiences to understand from a trailer or poster. The test of a high concept is whether the pitch alone generates excitement — ‘What if a great white shark terrorized a beach resort?’ or ‘What if a child woke up one morning in an adult body?’
Example:The producer described her project as a high concept family film: ‘A twelve-year-old girl discovers she can understand what animals are saying, and must use this ability to prevent a construction company from destroying the local wildlife sanctuary.’ The pitch immediately communicated the premise, the character, and the conflict.
Example: The development executive explained to the aspiring writer that the network was specifically looking for high concept ideas for their children’s programming slate — concepts so clear and compelling that a parent could explain the show to their child in one sentence.
Did you know?
The term ‘high concept’ became prominent in Hollywood during the 1980s, associated with the blockbuster era ushered in by films like Jaws and Star Wars. Producer Don Simpson, who made films like Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, and Top Gun, was famous for reducing every project to its essential high concept premise and making that premise the centerpiece of the film’s marketing. The approach was enormously commercially successful but also criticized for privileging marketability over artistic complexity.
You can also find “High Concept Idea” and related terms in this category: Scripts and Screenwriting.
