Story Idea:
Title: Alternate Ending.
A disillusioned film student, cynical about the importance of motion pictures, gets trapped in a universe where vast changes to history all stem from alternate versions of movies.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about alternate timelines. The world we know changed in an instant by one seemingly small decision. A small decision piled on top of another small decisions on top of a million small decisions, a billion decisions, spreading across the country to an inevitable change. A devastating change. A world-ending change.
These thoughts should depress me. And they do. But somehow it also brings me comfort. If such a small choice can affect so much change, then any small choices can make a change.
The choice to stick with Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly instead of firing him to cast Michael J. Fox could irrevocably change the tone and humor of Back to the Future.
The choice that George Lucas made to adapt Flash Gordon into a movie instead of writing Star Wars could stall his blossoming career.
The choice to cast the more age-appropriate Shirley Temple as Dorothy Gale instead of the iconic Judy Garland could erase the cultural impact of The Wizard of Oz.
Film has always reflected the world we live in. But what if it worked both ways? What if the alternate endings created alternate worlds?
The small things we do now, the small choices and changes and decisions, don’t bring us down. All the small things we do to fight for our future, gives us power. The power to change the world.
What alternate endings have changed your world?
Start your story in the comments below…