Screenwriting : The Evolution of the Romantic Comedy: What Today’s Rom-Coms Teach Us About Love, Storytelling, and Success by Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan

The Evolution of the Romantic Comedy: What Today’s Rom-Coms Teach Us About Love, Storytelling, and Success

What makes a romantic comedy successful in today’s market? How have audience expectations shifted over the years? And most importantly, how can screenwriters craft compelling, modern rom-coms that resonate with today’s viewers while honoring the genre’s timeless appeal?

Find out in today’s blog! www.stage32.com/blog/the-evolution-of-the-romantic-comedy-what-todays-ro...

Christine Capone

Just what I needed! I submitted my rom-com as a pitch and they said it wasn't funny enough. I hate stupid funny. I was also told that the end was too predictable ie, the girl gets the guy, so I rewrote it to make you think she doesn't win the guy over but eventually she does. I also don't like to write in modern technology. I feel that showing text messages on screen is kinda tacky. Can we have a movie where we are not using so much technology?? Anyway, this should be interesting.

Maurice Vaughan

Hi, Christine Capone. Different people find different things funny. The next person you pitch to might think your Rom-Com is hilarious.

I think we can have a movie where we aren't using so much modern technology. A lot of my scripts have modern tech, but I get rid of the tech or make it so the characters can't use it. The phone dies, no service, a character breaks their tablet, they're trapped in a house and their phone is in the car, a thief destroys the tech so the characters can't connect the cops or someone, a teenager is grounded and can't get on social media, etc. Or I'd just write a script in the middle of nowhere or something where the characters don't have modern tech.

Christine Capone

Those are all great scenarios, Maurice! I think the only time I liked seeing texts onscreen was in the TV show "Younger". Loved that show!

Maurice Vaughan

I don't think I've heard of that show, Christine Capone. I'll have to check it out. I saw a short film recently that had text messages on the screen. The filmmaker, editor, or someone made the messages look stylish. It looked better than a lot of text messages I've seen in movies and shows.

Christine Capone

Darren Star is the creator so of course it's good.

John C. Bounds

Christine Capone I wrote a script that had no cellphones in it. I found a way to justify by communicating other ways and people just didn't use them. Maybe it isn't believable, but I felt it just didn't need them. Also writing comedy is hard.

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