WRITING THE ROMANTIC
COMEDY by Billy Mernit
HarperResource - 2001
ISBN: 0060935030 - Paperback
Adult Nonfiction / Writing
(Some explicit content
in the chapter: Being Sexy)
Reviewed by Nancy Mehl,
MyShelf.com
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a Copy
Hollywood story analyst,
Billy Mernit, knows that movie studios are looking for good romantic comedies.
Unfortunately, most of the scripts presented by novice screenwriters are
rejected. Mernit takes a look at the reasons so many romantic comedies
fail - and why others succeed. He puts movies like Shakespeare in Love,
Tootsie, Annie Hall, and When Harry met Sally, under his experienced microscope
to help readers "see" what makes a romantic comedy appealing
to movie professionals and audiences alike.
Chapters include: Character
Chemistry, Developing Theme, Structuring Conflict, Keeping it Credible,
The Art of Funny, Being Sexy, Designing Dialogue, and Imagery - The Movie
in Your Mind's Eye. Along with clearly defined structural pointers, there
are actual exercises that will allow you to put what you've learned into
action.
This is a well-written
book that takes a seemingly difficult art and turns it into something
a lot more understandable. Some may find his suggestions too rigid, but
he also points out the exceptions to the rule. For example, the movie
Sleepless in Seattle, kept its romantic twosome from actually meeting
until the end of the movie, yet this popular romantic comedy was a box-office
success. WRITING THE ROMANTIC COMEDY is full of great advice. Perfect
for those interested in romantic comedy - and willing to put a little
effort into finding out what makes it tick.
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