Double identity
GENRE
ROMANCE/THRILLER
Core Theme
THE CORE THEME OF THIS STORY REVOLVES AROUND UNCOVERING FAMILY SECRETS, NAVIGATING COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS, AND SEEKING REDEMPTION AMIDST DECEPTION, BETRAYAL, AND TRAGEDY.
TIME PERIOD
19th Century
COMPARABLE TITLES
THE PARENT TRAP, REVENGE, EMILY IN PARIS
CHARACTER LIST
• GILLIAN AND JULIANNE ALLENWERTH. 25. TWINS. STRONG WITTED.
• ROBERT HAMILTON, GILLIAN’S HUSBAND;
• PAUL ALLENWERTH, TWINS’ DAD;
• CECILE, TWINS’ MOM;
• FRANÇOIS, JULIANNE’S HUSBAND AND
FORMER FAMILY CHEF;;
• MICHEL, THE FRENCH CEO.
Logline
Identical, twins and secret lives with deceit, murder and revenge. A passionate star Cross romance between charismatic French vintner Cecile Cardin and billionaire art collector, Paul Allensworth leads to the birth of two beautiful twins, who are separated at the age 3 during a mysterious divorce, one twin absorbs the artsy, Bohemian life, have a small French winery, the other lives, a lonely, luxurious life in New York City. Their parents take their shocking secrets to their graves, but leave their daughters with great wealth, an empire to run and draw box that reveals a legacy they could have never imagined as the twins learn of their parents passed and family history. They must come to terms with the gifts and the challenges that their parents have bestowed upon them only one twin will have the perfect life but both will skyrocket through an incredible journey
Target Audiences
Age: 35-54
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
New York / France
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Year Published: 2015
Starting Description
most of their 26 years, identical twins Gillian and Julianne Allenwerth are separated by five thousand miles of land and sea. Divided at age three as spoils of a mysterious divorce, Julianne and Gillian remain close despite the distance. Gillian grows up in New York City on Sutton Place in excessive
Ending Description
The author has not yet written this
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
Information not completed
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity
Plot - Other Elements
Twist
Plot - Premise
Rags to Riches
Main Character Details
Name: Gillian and Julianne Allensworth
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Adventurous, Badass, Beautiful, Blunt, Charming, Complex, Confident, Educated, Empathetic, Engaging, Romantic, Sexy
Additional Character Details
Name: Robert
Age: 30
Gender: 30
Role: Sidekick
Key Traits:
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
ACTION, DRAMA, MATURE AUDIENCE, SUSPENSE, THRILLER
Brief
In this captivating tale, twin sisters Gillian and Julianne unravel the dark secrets of their family’s past, confronting betrayal, deception, and the shadows of World War II. As they navigate through a web of intrigue and danger, they discover shocking truths about their parents’ identities and their own destinies. Set against the backdrop of France and New York City, this narrative weaves together themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of sisterhood. With twists and turns, the sisters must forge their own paths and reclaim their legacy amidst the chaos of their tangled family history.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: EXCELLENT
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: EXCELLENT
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: GOOD
Premise: EXCELLENT
Structure: GOOD
Theme: EXCELLENT
Accuracy of Book Profile
Book profile needs to be properly filled.
Draw of Story
The combination of family secrets, twin sisters unraveling mysteries, and the backdrop of historical intrigue got my attention.
Possible Drawbacks
Nothing made me want to put the book down – but the fact that there wasn’t much hesitation from Gillian in seducing her deceased sister’s husband was a bitter to read in the end.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
The promise of a surprising family legacy has proven to be a trendy theme and the twins' journey of discovery piqued my curiosity, making me eager to uncover the secrets and revelations as the story unfolds.
Fanbase Potential
The storyline has all the elements that often appeal to a wide audience in film adaptations: drama, romance, mystery, intrigue, and family secrets. The dynamic between the twins, the glamorous settings of France and New York City, and the exploration of themes such as identity, inheritance, and the consequences of family secrets would likely captivate viewers.
Awards Potential
The potential for awards hinges on the quality of the adaptation, including screenplay, direction, performances, and production. If executed effectively, the film could receive nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, acting, and technical categories like cinematography, costume and production design.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
THE PARENT TRAP, REVENGE.
What’s New About the Story
To enhance originality, delve deeper into the twins' psychological complexities in order to introduce the final unexpected plot development. Explore themes of nature versus nurture, personal agency, and redemption to set the story apart and captivate audiences in new ways. Also, the theme of BDSM could be more properly dealt with.
Lead Characters
Gillian and Julianne stand out as lead characters due to their contrasting personalities and the depth of their emotional journeys as they confront adversity, uncover family secrets, and navigate the complexities of their intertwined destinies.
Uniqueness of Story
The story could be improved by addressing the awkwardness of Gillian’s romance with her sister’s husband, which detracts from the otherwise compelling narrative.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Network, Cable, Limited Run / Mini-Series, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
Exploring the possibility of adaptation is recommended, given the richness of the settings, the captivating nature of the plot, and the allure of the glamorous and enticing characters. Each element contributes to the potential for a visually stunning and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. The story offers ample opportunities for filmmakers to craft a visually captivating and thematically resonant cinematic journey.
Brief
In the aftermath of their parents’ deaths, twin sisters Gillian and Julianne embark on a journey of discovery, uncovering shocking family secrets that redefine their identities and test the bonds of sisterhood. As they confront the sinister intentions of Gillian’s estranged husband, the sisters must navigate treacherous waters of deceit, revenge, and redemption. With the help of allies and the ghosts of the past, Gillian and Julianne strive to reclaim their autonomy and rewrite their family’s legacy, ultimately finding solace and love amidst the chaos of their intertwined destinies.
What We Liked
The audience would enjoy this story for its gripping blend of family drama, secrets, romance, and suspense, offering a journey of discovery, redemption, and the power of sisterhood. Spiritual battles, dazzling settings on New York and Paris, succession conflicts, this story brings contemporary themes
Film: It would be a captivating film adaptation due to its dramatic storyline, complex characters, and potential for visually stunning cinematic storytelling that could immerse audiences in the tale’s intrigue and emotion in a condensed format.
TV: It would make for a compelling TV adaptation due to its intricate plot, rich character development, and potential for suspenseful storytelling across multiple episodes.
Key points:
Family secrets; sisterly bonds; spiritual battles; dramatic twists; visually striking backdrops, emotionally engaging.
Synopsis
The story unfolds with Gillian reminiscing about her childhood, detailing life before and after her parents’ divorce, and the summers spent with her mother and sister in Reims.
She reflects on her five-year marriage to Robert, marked by decadence and his manipulative nature. Following her mother’s death, Gillian inherits a box containing her father’s post-mortem instructions, including a surprising revelation of his infertility and a marriage agreement with her mother to abstain from having children. Upon Julianne’s arrival, they discover the box has likely been stolen by Robert, prompting François, a French chef seeking revenge, to assist them.
On Julianne’s side of the narrative, she relishes François's company and reveals her illness to him. François prepares a special breakfast for Julianne on her name day.
Together, they retrieve the stolen box from Robert, uncovering shocking family secrets, including their mother’s past as a German-killing spy and their father’s possession of the Tay-Sachs gene, which caused Julianne’s illness and led him to avoid having children.
They also learn of their mother’s tragic past of being abused by a Nazi and subsequently killing him, as well as their father’s background as an art reproducer, information Robert exploits. Teaming up with Michelle, Gillian decides to rebrand their parents as war heroes. Julianne bribes François's ex-wife with $50,000 to release their children, and they flee to Paris. Robert lands in jail but is later bailed out. Gillian assumes control of the Paris office and implements changes. Julianne and François set a wedding date, which Robert attempts to sabotage by flying to France. Meanwhile, Sophie discovers valuable artwork in the cellar and encounters the ghost of a Nazi. Julianne becomes pregnant, but tragedy strikes with her miscarriage. Several months later, Julianne dies.
Robert tampers with Gillian’s car in an attempt to kill her, but Chloe, using Gillian’s bag, perishes instead, leading to Gillian being presumed dead and finally liberated from Robert’s grasp. Before her demise, Julianne leaves a letter for François, requesting him to take care of Gillian. Once the dust settles, François and Gillian kindle a romance, eventually marrying. Gillian visits Robert in prison, letting him know the truth about Chloe’s death and telling him she left her money with Benny.