Page 70 of You've Got a Place Here, Too
*** Turns out family illness and a breakup make for very bad sleep habits
FILM 045: From Meet-Cute to Joyful Resolution: Writing the Romantic Comedy for Beginners
Course Overview
Through a combination of lecture, writing, film watching, and analysis of classic romantic comedy screenplays such asWhen Harry Met Sally…andLove & Basketball,students will become familiar with the essential plot elements necessary to craft a winning romantic comedy. Special attention will be paid to the final “Joyful Resolution” plot element in order to help the novice screenwriter strike the optimal balance between heartfelt and cheesy.
Course Outcomes
Successful students will have their exceptional work entered into the annual Lights!Camera!Love! competition. They will also live Happily Ever After.
Please see appendix L for a snippet of the “Joyful Resolution” sequence from last semester’s winning entry entitledRomantic Studies.As an aside, it’s fascinating to note that, per the authors, this screenplay is completely autobiographical.
Appendix L: Snippet fromRomantic Studies(written by Danica Henderson and Sterling James)
FADE IN:
TITLE CARD: “2 MONTHS LATER”
EXT. SMALL HOUSE WITH BLUE DOOR IN JAMAICA—DAY
A profusion of hibiscus and rosebushes lines the pathway leading to the porch. Two small chairs are off to the left. On the porch we find STERLING, fidgeting. He steps to the door once and then twice before finally pressing the doorbell.
DANICA (O.S.)
I’ll get it.
Door opens.
(flustered)
Sterling. Hi.
STERLING
(wary)
Hey.
DANICA
What are you—
STERLING
Your aunt texted me.
DANICA
(confused)
And you flew all the way here?
STERLING
(defensive)
It’s not that far.
