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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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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