
Writing and Selling Romantic Comedy Screenplays
Creative Essentials (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 27. November 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-84344-110-6 (ISBN)
Description
What happens when 'happy ever after' isn't quite so simple? Today's attitudes to love and romance are as varied and diverse as individuals, and audiences want and need more sophisticated, authentic films that show how we live and love now. So what does this mean for the screenwriter developing a romcom? And how do they write heart-warming stories for a genre that is constantly evolving, from bromcom to zomcom to famcom?
Writing and Selling Romantic Comedy Screenplays offers a fresh approach to creating narratives for this ever-changing genre. Moving away from rigid and limited definitions that have evolved out of mainstream genre films, the book embraces a working definition that crosses cultural and national boundaries to give screenwriters around the world a truly international perspective on writing comedic love stories.
It will be the first screenwriting guide to reflect the diversity of approaches in today's films that deal with the human need for emotional and physical intimacy using humour - the contemporary romantic comedy.
Features of the book include:
Illuminating, challenging and provocative about the state of the rom-com genre. Why do some films feel so dated, while others are perennially relevant?
Explores and defines all subgenres of romcom, such as zomcom, bromedy, soromcom and famcom.
Uniquely draws on creativity, screenwriting genre theory and film industry practice.
Stimulating creative exercises at the end of every chapter, and 'hot tips' throughout.
Adaptable concepts that can be applied to both feature films and short films.
Encourages screenwriters to define their own values about love to ensure their voice and message is original - and commercial.
Case studies and analyses of produced screenplays, including Dostana, Due Date, I Give it a Year, I love You, Man, Midnight in Paris, Ruby Sparks, Tamara Drewe, Ted and Warm Bodies.
Interviews with writers, directors and producers.
Genuine international perspective.
Indispensible guide for both the student and the professional writer or filmmaker.
Writing and Selling Romantic Comedy Screenplays offers a fresh approach to creating narratives for this ever-changing genre. Moving away from rigid and limited definitions that have evolved out of mainstream genre films, the book embraces a working definition that crosses cultural and national boundaries to give screenwriters around the world a truly international perspective on writing comedic love stories.
It will be the first screenwriting guide to reflect the diversity of approaches in today's films that deal with the human need for emotional and physical intimacy using humour - the contemporary romantic comedy.
Features of the book include:
Illuminating, challenging and provocative about the state of the rom-com genre. Why do some films feel so dated, while others are perennially relevant?
Explores and defines all subgenres of romcom, such as zomcom, bromedy, soromcom and famcom.
Uniquely draws on creativity, screenwriting genre theory and film industry practice.
Stimulating creative exercises at the end of every chapter, and 'hot tips' throughout.
Adaptable concepts that can be applied to both feature films and short films.
Encourages screenwriters to define their own values about love to ensure their voice and message is original - and commercial.
Case studies and analyses of produced screenplays, including Dostana, Due Date, I Give it a Year, I love You, Man, Midnight in Paris, Ruby Sparks, Tamara Drewe, Ted and Warm Bodies.
Interviews with writers, directors and producers.
Genuine international perspective.
Indispensible guide for both the student and the professional writer or filmmaker.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Harpenden
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oldcastle Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
190 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84344-110-6 (9781843441106)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Craig Batty | Helen Jacey
Writing and Selling Romantic Comedy Screenplays
A Screenwriter's Guide to the RomCom Genre
E-Book
11/2014
Creative Essentials
€15.59
Available for download
Persons
CRAIG BATTY is Executive Dean (Creative) at the University of South Australia. He is a screenwriter, script consultant and script editor, with experiences in short film, feature film, television and online drama. He is the author, co-author and editor of fifteen books, including Writing and Selling Romantic Comedy Screenplays (published by Creative Essentials), The Creative Screenwriter: Exercises to Expand Your Craft, Movies That Move Us: Screenwriting and the Power of the Protagonist's Journey and Screenwriters and Screenwriting: Putting Practice into Context.
Helen Jacey is a screenwriter, author, and story consultant who has developed numerous projects across film, TV, radio, advertising and fiction for the UK and international industry. Helen's first book The Woman in the Story (2010) has been described as the seminal screenwriting guide to creating stronger female characters and she has trained writers and filmmakers across the globe. Helen also lectures on scriptwriting at Bournemouth University, UK.
Helen Jacey is a screenwriter, author, and story consultant who has developed numerous projects across film, TV, radio, advertising and fiction for the UK and international industry. Helen's first book The Woman in the Story (2010) has been described as the seminal screenwriting guide to creating stronger female characters and she has trained writers and filmmakers across the globe. Helen also lectures on scriptwriting at Bournemouth University, UK.