Thrill of a Lifetime

Michelle Lander Feinberg

Book Cover

GENRE

SUSPENSE/THRILLER

    Core Theme

    MIKE IS LOOKING FOR A CHANGE HIS LIFE, BUT WHEN HE ANSWER A CALL IN A FLYER, HE IS NOT FULLY AWARE OF THE TROUBLE HE IS GETTING INTO.

    TIME PERIOD

    Contemporary,Future

    COMPARABLE TITLES

    SAW

    CHARACTER LIST

    MIKE COOPER. 20S. LEAD. BORED, MONOTONOUS, NAIVE.

    MS. CABALE.. 30S. BOSS THE WOMAN IN CHARGE OF THE EVENT. FORCES MIKE INTO RISKING HIS LIFE. SERIOUS, STYLISH.

    Logline

    Mike Cooper's desire for adventure and change blinds him from the warning signs. A secret society has big plans for him, which he only realizes when there is no turning back.

    Target Audiences

    Age: 18-34

    Target Gender: Universal

    Setting

    Any city

    Based on a True Story

    No

    Publishing Details

    Status: No

    Starting Description

    Mike Cooper has been only existing, not truly living. An opportunity arises for everything to change for him, and he grabs onto it without considering all of the consequences.

    Ending Description

    Mike finds himself on a platform off the 23rd floor of a building, with a backpack that may or may not contain a parachute.

    Group Specific

    Information not completed

    Hard Copy Available

    No

    ISBN

    Information not completed

    Mature Audience Themes

    Information not completed

    Plot - Other Elements

    Twist

    Plot - Premise

    Internal Journey/Rebirth,Other

    Main Character Details

    Name: Mike Cooper

    Age: 20s

    Gender: Male

    Role: Protagonist

    Key Traits: Naive,Sarcastic,Aspiring,Complex

    Additional Character Details

    Name: Ms. Cabale

    Age: 30s

    Gender: Female

    Role: Tempter

    Key Traits: Badass,Aggressive,Confident,Decisive,Leader,Villainous,Sexy,Power Hungry,Secretive,Seductive,Sophisticated,Unapologetic

    Additional Character Details

    The author has not yet written this

    Additional Character Details

    The author has not yet written this

    Genre

    ACTION, SUSPENSE, THRILLER

    Brief

    Mike Cooper is living a dull life with his boring office job when he sees a flyer that may be life changing. He decides to go ahead in this mysterious endeavour, and finds out he is required to risk his life jumping with a backpack that may or may not contain a parachute. If he survives, he gets 25 million dollars.

    Overall Rating

    FAIR

    Point of View

    FIRST PERSON

    Narrative Elements

    Authors Writing Style: GOOD

    Characterization: FAIR

    Commerciality: GOOD

    Franchise Potential: GOOD

    Pace: FAIR

    Premise: GOOD

    Structure: FAIR

    Theme: GOOD

    Accuracy of Book Profile

    Book profile reflects book accurately.

    Draw of Story

    The mystery around the flyer with the job opportunity and the enigma involving what was going to happen at the event keeps is able to keep audience interested.

    Possible Drawbacks

    There is one inconsistency regarding the secrecy of the task Mr. Cooper would be required to do and the crowd that is gathering for the event, with food trucks and all. Ms. Cabale explains that everyone involved is sworn to secrecy, however it is still sounds unfeasible.

    Use of Special Effects

    THE STORY RELIES A LITTLE BIT ON SPECIAL EFFECTS

    Primary Hook of Story

    I would watch this movie to find out what happens to the main character.

    Fanbase Potential

    If adapted, this could have a large fanbase, however, as the outcome of the situation is not revealed by the author, can be both considered artistically enticing or plainly frustrating.

    Awards Potential

    It could have awards potential if adapted because script would require adapting and acting should be remarkable, as this story is more focused on the internal arc of the protagonist.

    Envisioned Budget

    MEDIUM BUDGET

    Similar Films/TV Series

    SAW

    What’s New About the Story

    The original thing about this story is that it finishes without solving the main mystery - if protagonist dies or not. It could be further developed in order to provide a more solid reason for this.

    Lead Characters

    Mr. Cooper is a relatable character. He works in a stable job without many adventures, and utterly feels invisible. However, in an act of bravery, he decides to give destiny a chance to change his life - but it doesn't quite turn out the way he could have imagined.

    Uniqueness of Story

    It should be improved in terms of characters and story development. Only an overview of Mike's life is provided, not enough for readers to get to know him and get involved in his motives.

    Possible Formats

    Film: Studio, Indie, Streaming TV Series: Cable, Network, Limited Run / Mini-Series, Streaming

    Analyst Recommendation

    WORK IN PROGRESS

    Justification

    Story comes with a great premise, but should be developed in a deeper level. Protagonist's life and reasons are only quickly covered, not enough to bring audience in and make his existence plausible.

    Tips for Improvement

    Character arcs and story need to be better developed.

    Brief

    Mike Cooper is living a dull routine in his boring office job when he sees a flyer that is just what he was looking for: a life changing opportunity. He decides to go ahead in this mysterious endeavour, only to find out he is required to risk his life. He has to jump with a backpack that may or may not contain a parachute, in front of a crowd. If he survives, he gets 25 million dollars.

    What We Liked

    The most exciting thing about this story is the mystery around the flyer with the job opportunity and the enigma involving what was going to happen after he finds out what the job actually is about. This story is able to make audience reflect upon the coups of luck - or lack thereof - that may change our lives forever.

    Film: It would be a great adaptation for Film because, as the ending doesn't actually reveal what happened to the protagonist, screenplay can be carried in a more artistic and philosophical manner and bring people to reflect upon luck and unpredictability of life itself.

    TV: It would be a great adaptation for TV, especially because the type of event the protagonist is involved can repeat itself with different characters and outcomes, providing insights for different types of people and lives.

    Key points: Mysterious plot; relatable protagonist; surprising ending; mysterious entreprise; life-changing events.

    Synopsis

    Mike Cooper has a stable and boring office job. He leads a life in which nothing seems to ever happen. He feels invisible.
    One day, he sees an orange flyer in his windshield with a mysterious opportunity and a phone number. He keeps the flyer and it reminds him of his cousin Louie, who got lucky and changed his life, against all odds, on a pyramid scheme. That is when Mike decides to call.

    They ask questions about him and when he requires more information about the work, the call gets a bit shady, but he decides to continue and is later offered the position.

    Excited, Mike buys new clothes, new shoes, gets a haircut and leads to his new office, a fancy place that looks like a museum. There, he meets Ms. Cabale, who tells him he has to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Mike is suddenly involved in a huge event about to happen, to which as crowd is already in place to see. He is thrilled to get so much unexpected attention. He is led to a room with a paper and a pen on a table and two identical backpacks.

    Ms. Cabale tells him this is less a NDA and more of a waiver of liability, and that the job is choosing one backpack and jumping - one of them has a parachute and the other doesn't. When Mike backs off, she threatens him with a gun. Mike picks up one backpack and jumps.

    About The Author

    Michelle Lander Feinberg has published two children's books in the Cooper the Dog series and has been writing short stories for years. When she isn’t writing, Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her husband and five children, traveling, reading, painting, practicing yoga, and playing golf. She lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts, with her husband, Andrew, their five children, and their pets—rescue dog Cooper, and Gus the mouse.