ANNCR: It's Sunday evening. Around 8 pm. You're sitting in the sofa, with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea. And the TV is on. We are watching it. If we go and ask someone which movie is her or his guilty pleasure, in almost a eighty percent of the times, the movies mentioned will have something in common: the romantic genre of the film.
If there is a movie which can make us forget about everything, enjoy and laugh, even though it can be a really bad movie, is a romantic one. However, it's not always the perfect answer. We can find that most of the people is quite embarrassed of her or his taste in romantic movies. Maybe because most of the romantic comedies we watch are really cheesy.
Let's break the mould with out guest Lara Martín.
SFX: Drumroll.
ANNCR: Lara is a deep lover of romantic movies who got tired of prince charmings. Good evening, Lara.
LARA: Good morning. You know, I've recently watched an American movie called Like Crazy, by Drake Doremus, a young director who uses the classic topic of the distance, people with different background who fall in love and that stuff. Yeah, yeah, I know this sound cheesy.
ANNCR: That's what I was gonna say, but no, no, continue. You said there was hope!
LARA: Okay. So... as I was saying, the movie might sound as he typical cliché, but actually is more realistic than what you might have thought at first. Because; I'm sorry 'cause I'm gonna spoil everything but it's necessary, really; during the whole movie and the end we see the real ups and downs of a romantic relationship in which, yes, there are good moments, but they usually don't last long. And we witness the heartbreak and the desire that the two characters have to stay together, and just how hard they fight... and in the end, well, let's just say that time and distance take their toll on them
SFX: Broken heart sound.
ANNCR: Okay, so that was your analysis. Nice, really nice. Now we have here in the studio with us the acclaimed critic Henry Lowell, who has been writing columns for movies in many newspapers and magazines for the past fifteen years. Hello, Mr. Lowell, thank you for joining us.
LOWELL: Thank you, it's my pleasure. You know, I have to say I was listening to what this lady was saying, and I have to say that I don't quite agree with her. Romantic movies have always been about making the audience feel better, about making us feel that love is possible. Let's face it, there aren't that many well done romantic films, or rather romantic comedies, at least not in the mainstream cinema that we are used to.
ANNCR: What would you say are the main elements of a romantic comedy?
LOWELL: Well, I'm sure a lot of listener will agree with me when I say that Notting Hill is probably the epiphany of the romantic comedy. It's got everything: two characters that have an undeniable chemistry, good supporting roles that lead the action forward and enable both protagonists to end up together, and who also add the humour to the film. I mean, it is clear that these movies are guilty pleasures... and as such filmmakers have to make sure that people go out of the cinema feeling uplifted and happy.
ANNCR: Very interesting point! We actually have here one of the scenes from the film you are talking about which clearly illustrates the point.
SFX: Notting Hill scene.
LOWELL: You see? That's what I'm talking about. Just by listening to this, the mood in this studio has changed.
ANNCR: Do you think there is hope for this genre to resurrect from the deep pit of clichés it has fallen into.
LOWELL: Oh, absolutely, that's the great thing about nowadays: there is so much variety, there is something for everyone. I think it's a genre that's definitely going to make a comeback. I mean, look at this year's Oscars: one of the nominated films, Her, is a romantic comedy. A brilliant one, I might add.
ANNCR: Certainly, certainly... well, that's it for today. Thank you, Henry Lowell and Lara Martín for sharing their insight with us today. Good evening and have a great week. See you next Thursday.
Guys, this is arguably a feature… the beginning was promising and you could even include an interview within the piece, but having two people questioned twice, playing a few seconds of a movie and ending the thing like you did does definitely NOT apply for a feature. Some effects, a clip and the opinion of two people (which are two of you!) is not enough. This is very poor: has no research behind and its main topic is not even clear enough.
ReplyDeleteDeliveries don’t sound natural, there’s barely mixing and scripting can be improved.
This is just your point of view about a genre… I’m not saying is not worth listening to, but this is not up to the expectations of what a (good) feature should be.
You must repeat this production
[Bear in mind, for the future, that using yourselves as guests, examples, interviewees or anything of the like is ruled out]