A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7

This is the 13th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one:

The story idea is how everyone in Hollywood short-hands your script.

From the first moment your script enters into submission process, where it’s covered and at the very top there is a logline, through the marketing of your movie, where posters, newsprint, radio, TV spots, and web content all derive from it, your story idea is the touchstone for everything that happens.

So over time, I think it is fair to say that story ideas have become the lifeblood of Hollywood, what people traffic in all day long. The more you can think like that, play to the way Hollywood people interact with stories, the better your chances of success in the business.

Today’s story idea: Williamsburg Moms Are in Hot Pursuit of Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz.

For some, bird-watching became synonymous with solace in the pandemic. The hobby is good for the outdoors, and near limitless in its triumphs. There are — I hope I’m not telling you for the first time — a lot of birds out there, even in New York City, would you believe it.

But according to Page Six, there’s a different kind of watching happening among at least one set of mothers living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the one-time home to the hipster community, and currently home to those who can pay to recreate the aughts glory days in a high-rise. They call themselves the “stroller mafia” and they are looking for Channing Tatum. They are Tatum-watchers and they are legion.

Paparazzi, kind of bird-watchers themselves, have recently photographed Tatum and his potential love interest Zoë Kravitz together (no confirmation or comments from either camp). Page Six reported Tuesday they were out and about in the Brooklyn neighborhood, and it has apparently set a group of young moms on fire. “Has anyone seen CHANNING TATUM is dating ZOË KRAVITZ and they’ve been seen around Williamsburg. My goal this week is to find them. WHO IS WITH ME?” goes the clarion call. Someone else said, “Someone told me she lives on South [BLEEP] Street. I think it’s best if we split up into teams and cover as much ground from Leonard to [BLEEP] Street.”

There has been one successful sighting: “I saw them walking through McCarren Park! Almost threw my baby at them as a conversation starter.” They aren’t just horny for Magic Mike! They’re horny for Kravitz too.

This story had me with two lines: “stroller mafia” and “Almost threw my baby at them as a conversation starter.” Here’s where I went with the concept.

I’d probably fictionalize a movie star, but for purposes of this thought experiment, let’s say the object is Channing Tatum.

Establish the unique subculture which is young adults in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Our three Protagonists: Erin, late 20s, single mother of an infant; Zack, mid-30s, gay father of a toddler; and Tonya, mid-20s, six months pregnant with a second child, also a toddler. They met each other at McCarren Park and have become fast friends in a hurry.

Each has unresolved issues about life, love, and parenting. Like the movie Neighbors, they more or less have one foot in parenting … and one foot yearning to be young, single, and unattached so they can enjoy the night life, partying, etc.

Then Channing Tatum moves into the trendy neighborhood.

The Call to Adventure: To track down Tatum. Being a movie star, he tends to be rather reclusive. Plus, there is a bodyguard who travels with him everywhere to keep fans at bay. But that just makes the challenge more fun. They make a challenge: The winner is the person who obtains a selfie with Channing Tatum.

That’s the focus of Act One. But then they discover in their snooping that Tatum is dating Zoë Kravitz. As the trio has become rather obsessed with Tatum, one (or more) of them doesn’t take too kindly to this “interloper.”

Could they decide to intervene and disrupt the budding romance? How involved do they become in Tatum’s life? Is there a movie shoot in the area which becomes part of the storyline? How do paparazzi fit into the story?

There’s my story setup for Chasing Channing, my 7th story idea of the month. And it’s yours. Free! What would YOU do with it?

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

Each day in April, I invite you to join me in comments to do some brainstorming. Take each day’s story idea and see what it can become when we play around with it. These are valuable skills for a writer to develop.