I was reading Robert McKee's, "Story" (a screenwriting resource recommended to me by my filmmaking instructor) and chanced upon his following quote on comedy writers:

"When we peek behind the grinning mask of comic cynicism, we find a frustrated idealist. The comic sensibility wants the world to be perfect, but when it looks around, it finds greed, corruption, lunacy. The result is an angry and depressed artist. If you doubt that, ask one over for dinner. Every host in Hollywood has made that mistake: 'Let's invite some comedy writers to the party! That'll brighten things up.' Sure...till the paramedics arrive" (McKee 359.)

My first reaction was to be offended and a little annoyed with McKee...when I realized HE WAS COMPLETELY RIGHT! I always seem to write my best comedies when I'm really upset about something, and with my current script, I find incarnations of my exes being embarrassed and romantically eviscerated.

I must admit...writing this piece for Script Frenzy has definitely helped me have a laugh or three at some of my terrible past relationships. And sometimes...I live through the happy ending of my two leads.

Does anyone else feel the same?

I'm going through that. A lot of mine is ripped from the headlines of my life and when I put a happy or funny twist on a situation, I think "now if that had really happened, life would have been a lot better instead of the sad trainwreck it is."

Well, for a moment at least, then I thank my useless exes for being such good raw material that if I had written some bits as nonfiction no one would have believed it. One ex I'm having to write as nicer than he was because writing it all down- what was I thinking? No one will believe the MC would choose that.

Hahaha yes I find myself doing the same! I sit there and think, "But then the audience is going to think to themselves, who would ever waste their time being attracted to such a loser! Certainly...I...would...never...do...that..." *Shifty eyes*

I have to say-- I hope you don't mind, I just saw your story idea on your profile and it's REALLY good! "Otherwise Engaged?" That is a GREAT name for your play! I dig it!

I think that is a great quote and it's true. People don't always have the comical lives that they write about. A lot of stuff does come from life, but not all in one storyline. Much like the rom com I'm working on is taking my life and what I wish it was like through various acts that have happened in the past 25 years.

I'm really glad you posted that quote, and I agree, it's true. My funniest friends (myself included) are all secretly the most bitter.

In relation to my screenplay - my whole movie is based on the last year of my life. I took a moment to stop and think about it, and realized this catalogue of events should only happen in a movie, where the fake people won't have to live with the restitution. And it's therapeutic to re-write situations how I would have liked to handle them, or have them turn out, but didn't. And it's this bitter feeling of things not working out for me, that motivates me to make things work out for my characters.

:-)
Yay, bottom line, awesome quote.

LOL Can I friend you? And maybe...everyone on this thread?

I am so glad to be in the company of other jaded women who are making fun of terrible dating and having a hilarious time doing so! *Clinks cosmopolitan glass in a toast* :)

*Clinks washington apple (aka best drink ever) glass in agreement*

Here here. I feel this thread (the whole day I've been looking at it) has become a classy group of woman turning a bad situation into a work of art.

:-)

A Washington Apple is pretty formidable! I approve. :)

Me too. It's always in my nature to poke fun of things in a bad situation, but I find that writing this script about my breakup has really helped me crack myself (and other people) up, making a crap situation fun for the whole family.

Script Frenzy is awesome...I have not felt this passion to write in years, and I had forgotten the power of myth. How wonderful it is to create a character that is your ideal mate in a script, destroy your exes in fiction, and maybe add in a fire or a car chase for good measure.

In the words of Beyonce: "All the single ladies, all the single ladies, put your hands up."

*clinks Washington Apple* (my favorite drink!)

Haha! Why didn't I find this thread earlier. Yes basically everything from my script is based on me and stupid guys. I always write about myself, except make it more exciting. In fact today I was reading some old work of mine about a sort of ex and was laughing hysterically because of my stupidity. Man I love this thread.

Okay, I am somewhat embarrassed by this but I'm going to admit it here.

I have been stuck on the third act, I know what I want to say but I can't find the pace or the order, so I worked on my resume instead. While working, I realized I should totally call up my crush, who is the basis for one of my characters, for a resume related matter.

But truthfully, I called him to get more material to use. I am a useless excuse for a creative writer. :)

jbmarie: hey whatever works for you works. Hey I hope you got more material to use.

I got enough material to round out at least two scenes, an answer to my resume question and a roundabout invitation to get together and hang out once he's gotten his internet back up.

Of course, the next logical progression is that this man can never see this play. Heck, I haven't even changed the name of the character.

In recent, related news, I just went on a horrible date with someone whom I believe may have been a compulsive liar!

I wanted to cry midway, but I told myself, "Just make it through and at least you can make fun of this in your script when you get home!"

jbmarie: well that is quite the accomplishment. Way to go. Yeah I have a few stories, not plays that people can not read. I did change the names, but it's so obvious who they are that they can never read them. Well I'm glad that you got two scenes out of that one conversation.

bionicfemme: That's one way to look at a bad situation. I'm sorry about the horrible date, but am glad that you can use it in your script.

I reread an older journal entry of mine, and have determined that I am totally using it in my script. It would work perfectly, even though it was one of the worst days of my life.

Well best of luck to all!

P.S. I finally cuaght up and surpassed where I am supposed to be. Yeah!

JBMarie - I totally know that feeling of being stuck and needing inspiration from the male lead. Unfortunately the guy that my MMC is based on is not easily attainable for me, so I have to use other guys for inspiration. I might have to use the resume excuse too. haha

Bionicfemme - bad dates are the best to write about. I went on a couple blind dates last year and they made some of the best material.. Throughout the whole date I was laughing to myself how the night could be written out.. and just kept thinking "is this really happening to me." made for some very funny material :)

Dani_writer - that's a great idea.. I should find my old journals!

As for me, I am still stuck in the middle.. I have a beginning and an ending, but the middle is the hardest part for some reason. I guess it doesn't help that I don't have life experiences for that particular part of the relationship I'm writing.

Good Luck ladies!

Well ShutUpHeidi good luck. I'm in the same boat I have an ending and a beginning, but not a middle. I've really picked up steam the last couple of days thoughw hich is making me really excited.

I think I might be able to win in a couple of days, if not by tomorrow.

Yep bad dates can be quite comical to use in your stories. Whenever I tell my friends what happened they just keep laughing and I'm sitting her aggravate because I am trying to tell them how miserable I was. Since they can't stop laughing, I think I might as well use it in my writing.

As for my MMC I wish I could simply call him to generate more ideas, but I haven't met anybody quite like him, so I'm out of luck.

Good luck everybody.

dani_writer: "Whenever I tell my friends what happened they just keep laughing and I'm sitting her aggravate because I am trying to tell them how miserable I was. Since they can't stop laughing, I think I might as well use it in my writing."

OH MY GOD THANK YOU! I am always saying the exact same thing! I came back from this date one time where this lady kept yelling obscenities at me in the middle of dinner and i'm like, "I think she had tourette's..." and my friends are falling on the floor laughing. I'm like, "It's NOT funny...I think she seriously HAD TOURETTE'S" [Insert more laughter here]