Week 2 Day 2 – What I learned …

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

I learned that a great twist for a RomCom (I think this Harry/Sally scene is about the midpoint) has the characters reversing roles to some extent.

My own script has the Ellie (female protag) as in despair and serious in the beginning and Jim (male protag) as happy-go-lucky, a playful playboy. They actually need each other to bring them into maturity and better persons. I have it about 3/4 through my script that these roles reverse. Ellie with Jim’s zest for life and romancing has made her hopeful and more positive, more dynamic and into living in the world, rather than hiding from it. On the other hand, Jim has fallen into despair — a need phase for his maturing — and Ellie is now leading the way for them.

This plays out over a few scenes in Act 3 and Act 4 (4-Act structure).

One, and “All is Lost” scene, is where Jim has sunk into total despair and is calling off the wedding, this time for a more mature reason:

While visiting his mother, they are heavily into love-making and she worries his mother will be coming back from shopping, so he suggests they move operations into his bedroom, and starts to pick her up. Then he plonks her down on the sofa:

JIM: I can’t go through with this.

ELLIE: Did you hear me object?

JIM: I don’t mean thaaat. I mean I’m calling off the marriage. I can’t take you away from your uncle and what you could do to help him.

ELLIE: Jimmm, I made up my mind to go with you and do great and wonderful things. I need you. And you need me. I’m your shell. Remember?

JIM: It’s no good. You and Layo have important work. I can’t interfere. Just because I have this obligation doesn’t mean you have it.

ELLIE: Don’t you love me?

JIM: Of course I love you. That’s why I have to let you go.

ELLIE: Now that makes fat sense. I said I’m okay here, fine in fact.

JIM: I don’t want to discuss it. You gave me love. I gave you love. And we’re better for it. We can go on our separate destinies now. (beat) It was me. I needed time to be sure. And now I am. Plus I still have a horrible banger and I’m going to bed.

Jim marches off to his bedroom. Ellie bites her lip as if that will hold back tears that fill her eyes.

————-

Then in later scenes starting at the end of Act 3 Ellie takes charge, gets Jim back and gets them to confront their worst fears… bringing their opposing, bitter enemy uncles together at their wedding…. which Jim thinks will blow up their wedding, even the whole state of Texas.

[Ann Marie]

What I learned is that lead characters demand unique characterisation traits, dialogue and actions that make them lead characters. They must stand out from the crowd and engage and entertain for the duration of the story as they are the ones carrying the story. It forces the writer to dig deep to get those truly great lines and actions that are true to the character while also moving the story forward.