It’s 2020 and my writing project is off to an objectively terrible start. I haven’t been creative in the ways that I’d like to be yet, but the only thing worse than how I’ve been so far would be to continue that trend. With that in mind, here’s a work-in-progress of my first movie treatment of 2020.
Click through for the work-in-progress:
Mechanically Inclined
Logline:
While working on an old motorcycle at an inherited storage unit, a young woman verbally spars with a man using a nearby unit, deciding that patience and perseverance may fix bikes, but not necessarily people.
Characters:
- Mechanic
Late 20s, maybe not mechanically inclined, but not afraid to try. Wants to repair her dad’s old motorcycle as a way to think about who he was and what his hobbies were. Takes a long time to even recognize Chad as more than just an annoying dude who shows up occasionally. - Chad
Young lawyer at a local firm. Image conscious from a less-than-affluent upbringing. Rides a new, shiny Harley. Comes by the storage unit regularly to get access to older files for work. Thinks of working on your own bikes as too blue collar. - Mechanic’s Friend
Flighty and not very practical, thinks Mechanic is a badass (if a little crazy) for trying this project that, ultimately, doesn’t interest her much. She doesn’t like Chad, but warms to the idea eventually. - Mechanic’s Mom
Hated her ex-husband, loves her daughter. Not overtly supportive of the bike project, as it’s “unfeminine,” but an unintentional font of backstory about her dad and what riding meant to him. - Chad’s friend
Immediately recognizes the idea of a mechanic girl as badass and potentially very hot, and actively lobbies Chad to get over himself and pursue this girl.
Treatment:
- Act I
Meet our Mechanic. Sitting at home, going through boxes of paperwork and shit from her late father’s estate, she finds old bills for a storage unit. “Thanks for switching to online billing – this is the last mailing you will receive from us.”
Call mom, ask about storage, “oh, yeah, storage for your dad’s old shit. No idea what he did with it after we separated.”
Go to storage unit – it’s jammed. Close door, disheartened.
Drinks with girlfriend, she agrees to help.
Next day, they’re at it (friend is late), pulling things out of the unit, uncover the bike.
It ain’t in great shape, but it’s got good bones.
Friend leaves, Mechanic ponders.
She decides to fix the bike.
- Act II
- Act III
