Genre

COMEDY, MATURE AUDIENCE, DRAMA

Brief

A Hollywood wannabe aligns herself with a filmmaker in hopes of getting close to an A-list movie star. But desire quickly turns to obsession, and she tears apart those around her, all the while creating a series of journals for her former lover to receive after her suicide.

Overall Rating

FAIR

Point of View

THIRD PERSON

Narrative Elements

Authors Writing Style: FAIR

Characterization: FAIR

Commerciality: FAIR

Franchise Potential: FAIR

Pace: FAIR

Premise: FAIR

Structure: FAIR

Theme: FAIR

Accuracy of Book Profile

The book profile is short and succinct, though all the sections are not filled out. It’d be particularly helpful to see an author biography, as well as a short development pitch, to help us understand why INFAMOUS INFATUATION is well-suited for adaptation.

Draw of Story

We feel a great sense of loss from the first page. The story gives us an air of tragedy, which engages us enough to want to know more. Soon after, the pieces begin to fall into place, and we get a great sense of the dynamic between the surviving characters. The dual timeline/dual POV is also introduced quickly, to add to the mystique of the tragedy and by the time we meet Suzi on the page, we’re already hooked.

Possible Drawbacks

The time jumps are a bit hard to follow, and though the story has a great sense of setting, it’s hard to know when we’re in London and when we’re in Los Angeles. It might be helpful to add some time and/or location stamps throughout the chapters, so the reader can follow the trajectory of the story more easily.

Use of Special Effects

THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS

Primary Hook of Story

A dual timeline and dual POV story, INFAMOUS INFATUATION follows the aftermath of the protagonist’s suicide, exploring a series of journals she left behind for her former lover. It’s full of emotional complexity that holds a mirror to the perceived glamour of the ‘00s, including things like heavy drug use and pornography.

Fanbase Potential

Stories like this are certainly marketable, especially with the streaming services. It could appeal to fans of dramatic thrillers, or fans who enjoy stories with a strong sense of setting. In 2023, it’s quite possible that ‘00s stories are considered historical, so this could be interesting for fans of historical dramas as well.

Awards Potential

The Academy doesn’t usually recognize films of this genre, but it’s possible that the Golden Globes will. It’s also possible that there’s potential for below the line awards, like best costuming, best score, best screenplay, etc. And fan-voted awards, of course, are always a contender.

Envisioned Budget

LOW BUDGET

Similar Films/TV Series

FATAL ATTRACTION, 13 REASONS WHY

What’s New About the Story

The story gives us a good glimpse at ‘00s fame, which we don’t see that often. It also has a strong sense of setting, in that it’s rooted in the idea of Hollywood, be it in London or LA. To make it more unique might mean elevating the character development a bit, particularly with the supporting cast. For instance, it’d be great to understand the motivation of someone like Carmen, or even Jane, which in turn could help us better understand Olivier. It’d also make the story feel more well-rounded overall.

Lead Characters

Suzi and Olivier are two characters who start the story with similar goals, but their paths diverge as Suzi falls deeper into emotional instability. Still, they continue to re- connect, often in pursuit of their individual goals, which creates a dynamic between them that is both interesting and engaging.

Uniqueness of Story

INFAMOUS INFATUATION has a lot of potential, but it doesn’t feel like a rare gem quite yet. The character development feels like it needs some work, perhaps a deep dive into things like motivation, to keep audiences engaged and feeling like they can relate to the characters. The time jumps are also a bit tough to follow, which impacts the story flow. It’d be helpful if the reader better understood when and where the characters are in each chapter, to follow the story more easily.

Possible Formats

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

Analyst Recommendation

WORK IN PROGRESS

Justification

The time jumps are a bit hard to follow, and though the story has a great sense of setting, it’s hard to know when we’re in London and when we’re in Los Angeles. It might be helpful to add some time and/or location stamps throughout the chapters, so the reader can follow the trajectory of the story more easily.

Tips for Improvement

A great next step would be elevated character development, a deep dive into emotion, motivation, driving forces, etc. The skeleton of the story is firmly in place, but it’d be great to do a deep dive into the other layers of the characters. A stronger flow between past and present would be beneficial as well, as it would allow the reader to grasp time and place without any guesswork, ultimately leading to more refined, better-flowing story overall.