194 | Romantic Comedy Writing Masterclass w/ Billy Mernit
May 23, 2024
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Billy Mernit, a Romcom guru, discusses the art of crafting romantic comedies. Topics include navigating new writing projects, imposter syndrome, evolution of romcoms, contrasting characters, and crafting authentic relationships. The podcast offers insights into sustaining relationships in TV shows and script consulting challenges. TSL workshops are also introduced for writer support and inspiration.
Romantic comedies reflect real-life relationship stages, resonating with viewers' experiences.
Rom-com success lies in authenticity, vulnerability, and conveying unique perspectives on love.
Visual excitement and world-building enhance rom-com narratives, captivating audiences in innovative ways.
Deep dives
Exploring the Organic Structure of Romantic Comedies
Romantic comedies often reflect the organic process of real-life relationships, where specific stages mirror our own experiences. The setup before meeting someone, the significant meeting, the choice of pursuing the relationship, the serious commitment point, the doubt and testing phase, followed by a crisis and resolution, all resonate with viewers due to their authenticity and relatability.
The Importance of Delving into Personal Authenticity
A key aspect of successful rom-com writing is delving into personal authenticity and vulnerability. Writers can fall into the trap of avoiding depth by focusing on conventional tropes or general thematic approaches. The most resonant rom-coms address what the relationship represents and convey a specific take on love and romance, adding depth and meaning beyond surface-level humor or idealistic portrayals.
Enhancing Rom-Coms Through Visual Excitement
Visual excitement and world-building play crucial roles in enhancing romantic comedies. Writers can subvert traditional dialogue-heavy rom-com structures by incorporating visual imagery and set pieces that captivate audiences. Utilizing image systems, unique settings, and vibrant visuals can elevate rom-com narratives and engage viewers in fresh and compelling ways, making the world itself a character and enhancing storytelling potential.
The Role of Class in Romantic Comedies
Class differences have been a longstanding theme in romantic comedies, providing conflict and character arcs. From classic literature to modern works, the exploration of social status continues to be relevant, offering insights into power dynamics and equality in relationships. While not a necessity, class remains authentic and can shape romantic narratives.
Revitalizing the Romantic Comedy Genre
Despite challenges in theatrical releases, romantic comedies thrive on streaming platforms like Netflix. Success hinges on unique storytelling approaches that offer freshness and surprise to viewers. By delving into cultural shifts and contemporary relationship dynamics, writers can infuse authenticity and relevance into romantic comedy scripts, capturing audiences' attention with innovative narratives.
The romantic comedy is one of the most enduring genres in American Cinema and for good reason: it's all about love, joy, and transformation, aka, the heart of good storytelling. This is Billy Mernit's entire ethos, the foundation that has made Billy's rom-com philosophy one of the most celebrated in our business. Billy is a story consultant, novelist, and Romcom guru, who's booking WRITING THE ROMANTIC COMEDY is a fundamental screenwriting craft text for emerging writers and pros.
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