Half Truths

GENRE
ACTION SUSPENSE/THRILLER ROMANCE MYSTERY FAMILY DRAMA CRIME COMEDY
Core Theme
LOVE, BETRAYAL
TIME PERIOD
2000s
COMPARABLE TITLES
THE SKULLS, THE IN CROWD
CHARACTER LIST
• AMELIA “MAE” BASTON: 21, BEAUTIFUL, INQUISITIVE, DETERMINED
• LOGAN “FITZ” FITZGERALD: 22. STRONG, ATHLETIC, POPULAR, AMELIA’S BOYFRIEND
• NOLAN ASTOR: 20S, FUN, ATHLETIC, AGGRESSIVE, LOGAN’S BEST FRIEND HAILEY
• VALENTINE: 20S, DEVIOUS, JEALOUS, AMELIA’S FRIEND AND HALF SISTER
• LINCOLN BASTON: 20S, PRINCIPLED, BEST FRIEND AND BROTHER TO AMELIA
• LANA LY: 20S, BEAUTIFUL, MISSING, FELIPE’S LOVER
• FELIPE BASTON: 50S, SECRETIVE, CUNNING, AMELIA’S FATHER
Logline
A girl transfers to her parent's alma matter Ivy League school for her last year of college, intent on finding out the truth about what happened to her brother, who was a hockey player in the school the year before. While going through his things, she stumbles upon a mysterious card.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Female Leaning
Setting
Ithaca, New York
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: Claire Contreras
Year Published: 2019
Starting Description
Amelia BastĂłn shows up at Ellis University. Meets Logan, the mysterious hero, and finds out about a secret society her brother was involved with. She gets her own invitation and goes to the address instructed. There, she finds out more about the secret society and why her brother was in it.
Ending Description
After finding out the truth about her father's involvement in the society, Amelia is determined to go to the police, but her friend plots against her and tries to get rid of her in order to cover up Amelia's father's sins. (This friend is her half-sister, but that is kept from Amelia -& the reader)
Group Specific
teens, college-aged, adult women
Hard Copy Available
Yes
ISBN
978-0998345574
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity
Plot - Other Elements
Coming of Age,Meaningful Message,Happy Ending,Twist
Plot - Premise
Other
Main Character Details
Name: Amelia Baston
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Badass,Confident,Decisive,Desperate,Empathetic,Engaging,Unapologetic,Funny,Sarcastic,Blunt
Additional Character Details
Name: Logan Fitzgerald
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Role: Tempter
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Masculine,Underdog,Sexy,Confident,Complex,Heartthrob,Heroic,Educated,Leader,Seductive,Secretive,Sarcastic
Additional Character Details
Name: Nolan Astor
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Masculine,Charming,Confident,Sexy,Funny,Outspoken,Blunt,Sarcastic,Secretive,Heroic,Heartthrob
Additional Character Details
Name: Nolan Astor
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Role: sidekick
Key Traits: Adventurous,Badass,Charming,Confident,Engaging,Blunt,Sexy,Masculine,Sarcastic,Secretive,Seductive,Educated,Leader,Heartthrob
Development Pitch
Half Truths and the rest of the secret society series works because it is perfect for fans of Elite, Sabrina, and other shows/movies that play with dark elements. There is a wide range of diverse, flawed characters who are looking for themselves as they navigate college life and the unexpected, twisted things that take place in Ellis University. The possibilities in this world are endless.
Genre
SUSPENSE, ROMANCE, DRAMA
Brief
A young woman transfers to an Ivy League school for her last year in college to discover the truth about an accident suffered by her brother. In her quest she discovers the existence of secret societies on campus, truths about her father, and a missing person all while falling in love with the school’s star hockey player along the way.
Overall Rating
GOOD
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: GOOD
Commerciality: EXCELLENT
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: GOOD
Premise: GOOD
Structure: GOOD
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The book profile is accurate.
Draw of Story
Intrigue regarding secret societies on campus draws the reader into the story immediately.
Possible Drawbacks
It is a little heavy on the hero worship of the star hockey player and on the romance. Toning down that aspect and focusing more fully on the actual intrigue, would make the story more intense and engaging.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
A story about secret societies is quite interesting and delving into the lives of the uber rich offers insight into how the other side lives.
Fanbase Potential
The fanbase for a film like this may tend towards the female demographic given the heavy emphasis on romance. However, since there is a bit of mystery and some sports mixed in for good measure, it has some crossover appeal.
Awards Potential
An adaptation of this story probably wouldn't have Awards potential. It is generic enough and lacking in an exceptional aspect that would make it attractive for Award nominations.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
THE SKULLS, THE IN CROWD
What’s New About the Story
The story could be more unique if more intrigue and suspense were weaved into the secret society storyline.
Lead Characters
The lead characters are exceptionally rich and privileged.
Uniqueness of Story
Though the love story is nice, it could be improved by adding more specifics about the secret societies going back to generations.
Possible Formats
Film - Indie, Film - Streaming, Film - Studio, TV Series - Limited Run / Mini-Series
Analyst Recommendation
CONSIDER
Justification
The storyline about secret societies is compelling and would make a good, solid film.
Brief
A young woman transfers to an Ivy League school for her last year in college to discover the truth about an accident suffered by her brother. In her quest she discovers the existence of secret societies on campus, truths about her father, and a missing person all while falling in love with the school’s star hockey player along the way.
What We Liked
- The mysterious secret societies, the non-communicative brother, a missing coed, and an investigative journalist looking for answers makes for a compelling concept. There is also a heavy romantic storyline that will appeal to a largely female audience.
- Film: A feature adaptation of the story would be engaging. The romance angle is appealing, but the book could use a punch up of the storyline relating to the suspense/mystery elements of the plot to create a more complete movie story arc.
- TV: Adapting the book into a limited mini-series for television could be interesting. Keeping the focus on the intrigue and mystery of the secret societies and the scandal involving the missing coed would make for a suspenseful series.
- Key points: Romance; Suspense; Ethnically diverse cast; Young audience demographic; Happy ending.
Synopsis
Amelia Baston comes from a wealthy family. She transfers to the Ivy League school attended by her parents and brothers for her senior year. She wants to find out what happened to her brother, Lincoln, that has caused him to retreat from life. She is also curious to discover any leads on the disappearance from the university of an acquaintance from high school named Lana Ly.
Amelia promptly gets a job writing for the school paper and is given the assignment of writing about the secret societies on campus. She also befriends, Hailey, a barista at the local coffee shop, and learns that Lincoln’s hockey buddies, Logan and Nolan are the most popular guys on campus.
Amelia discovers that Lincoln was part of a secret society and that he may have been the last person to see Lana before her disappearance. Amelia gets her own invitation to join a secret society. Logan is part of the society as well and though they didn’t get along at first, they soon start to flirt shamelessly and fall in love.
Lincoln overdoses and spends some time in a medically induced coma. While he is recovering, Amelia is initiated into the secret society and learns that their father, also a member of the secret society, was involved in a sex ring masquerading as a mentorship and that he and Lana were having an affair.
Amelia wants her father brought to justice. Hailey reveals that she and Amelia share a father. Hailey has always been jealous of Amelia getting to spend time with their father and getting to take advantage of his lavish lifestyle. Hailey now plans to do away with Amelia and take her place. She also reveals that she has been harboring Lana to keep her quiet and that she tried to kill Lincoln to protect their father from exposure.
Hailey kills Lana and buries Amelia alive. Some guys from the rival secret society discover Amelia and rescue her from the grave. She is happily reunited with Logan. Hailey and her father are brought to justice and after some time to heal from the trauma has passed, Amelia and Logan graduate and plan to get married and start their new life together.