- A small-town sheriff, a marine biologist, and a grizzled fisherman team up to hunt a monstrous great white shark terrorizing a beach community. (Jaws)
- A young farm boy discovers his destiny as a rebel hero in a galaxy embroiled in an epic battle between good and evil. (Star Wars: A New Hope)
- A washed-up boxer gets an unexpected shot at the world heavyweight title, proving he’s more than just a bum from the neighborhood. (Rocky)
- A criminal mastermind assembles a team to pull off a near-impossible heist within the dream world of a powerful businessman. (Inception)
- A grieving widower embarks on an ocean-spanning journey with a forgetful fish to find his kidnapped son. (Finding Nemo)
In just a single sentence, each premise let’s a director/movie executive know the genre of the movie, casting choices, cost, how long it will take to make, how much it’s likely to make…and whether or not it’s worth making into a movie.
Everything has a premise.
Especially when it comes to you being a Doctor.
“Go to school, become a Doctor, and then you can do whatever you want.”
That was the premise for medical school as pitched by my Dad throughout my childhood.
Do your country/family proud. Have the approval and acceptance of your father. High status, high income, job for life. Helping people. Doing good in the world. Making a dent in the Universe. Being seen as a good person. Being seen as a smart person. Secure identity. The ultimate safety net for trying new things. Freedom and security.
All of this bundled up in that single premise that I bought into. The single false premise.
Premises matter.
Seeing them is the first step to challenging them and changing them.
For yourself, as well as for those who you seek to serve.
What’s the premise of your story?