Screenwriting : Don't force a romance! by Phil Parker

Oh, and fyi, I couldn't find the link to the other 9 lessons this article refers to, but I'd love to hear comments on topic. Cheers!

I loved the fight for love between Han Solo and Princess Leia. Lines like" You could use a good kiss" . . "My hands are dirty too" and "I would rather kiss a Wookie"

On a bigger scale, isn't forcing romance a reflection of life? I see it every day all around me. People feel they aren't complete without someone in their life. Not everyone, not all the time, but it is quite common.

So many great films include a little bit a romance. After all, intimate connection is an easy way to make characters and their stories relatable and therefore marketable. However, these romantic subplots have become so bland. Or they pay too much attention to the romance when it doesn't affect the story all that much. I'm glad the article mentions the relationship between Alan and Ellie in Jurassic Park. But maybe Hollywood feels pressured to force a flashy romance (with the kiss right before, during or after the climax of an action film) because the audience is expecting one. That would mean we're the problem. Many of the horror films released in theaters these last couple of years have felt lackluster to me, but people still rush to see them hoping for cheap jump scares. Hollywood wouldn't keep doing it if it didn't make money. So either we, as an audience, have willingly decided to not move on to other things, or Hollywood has conditioned us to like these things so it wouldn't have to change.

Personally, I am so tired of this trope. It's as if writers/filmmakers seem to think, well, we've got a female character, so I guess there HAS to be romance or sexual tension. This seemingly forced notion keeps me away from films. I find it boring. Lazy. There's so much more to the human condition and relations between people. I can't tell you how much I love the film Aliens. I mean, c'mon, soldiers Vasquez and Drake -- buds to the end. In a group of highly trained Marines, it's Vasquez who's asked to "take point." I really can't think of any other film which has men and women together acting as a team and not romantic conquests... I feel the same with TV shows. The ones that hold my interest feature a partnership/deep friendship/platonic love between characters, they'd die for each other even though they are not romantically involved. Don't get me wrong, who doesn't enjoy a good romance! But, it's best when it's genuine, authentic, not a forced "element" added only for "tension" or "conflict" between characters or a scene.

Vasquez rocked, right? Lara Croft, Tomb Raider (the first one at least) also carried her movie without a forced love connection riddling the plot. I haven't seen the recent mad max movie...does the heroine get wrapped up in a love plot? CJ has an interesting point. CJ, can you name some of those older films? All I'm getting is 'godfather' and then the terrible slew of sexist, overtly sexualized bad 80's movies. What's really weird is considering kid's movies, and pre-teen movies. Take Super8, or even Despicable Me 2, or the Fabulous 4 (1 and 2), spiderman, any of them. They are full of love stories and hints of sexualisation that just makes kids squirm! Kids truly just hate that shit, why are their movies so full of it?

In "Legally Blonde," the romance plot is the (platonic) friendship with a manicurist. In my stage play, "Courting Mae West," the romance plot is between Mae and her alcoholic sister Beverly -- how they heal their relationship. Think broadly about the B story-line.

I wanted to write my story without one but I felt pressured to do it because its hard to hold attention without some kind of relationship. I'm happy with it but its difficult to grab both sexes without it. People expect it maybe because they are in relationships

People expect it even if they're not in relationships, it's just Primal. Whenever you see a guy and a woman in a film, it's always expected that they're gonna fall for each other, of course it depends on the type of film. But it's just something that happens everyday, the problem in Hollywood is that sometimes it's just not believable.

@Beth - I wholeheartedly agree. Vasquez was great, but emotionally what I loved, amongst other things, was the quiet, unforced relationship between Ripley and Hicks. There was an attraction there but it was born out of mutual respect, not just "me, man, you, woman, let's mate." A romance in that situation would have been ridiculous and Cameron, being clever as he is, wisely avoided it. The same thing in Jurassic Park. Yes, it is natural for us to want romance, but I say respect your characters. Let it happen if it would happen, not because it HAS to happen.

While we're on the subject of forcing romance, why don't we open it up to the tropes that we see that come along with those events? e.g. I LOVE House of Cards, but I just watched yet another post-sex scene where the woman is wearing the man's business shirt. Really? Does this ever happen? lol

Ugh. Romance. I'm working on a contained thriller right now where the romance was easily built into the story but so often I find myself wedging round into square. What I think is the onerous aspect of romance is that we're taught that it's always supposed to be budding. What if the most natural state is it's decline? Or its end? It's stagnation? The love subplot works as long as its natural.

Yes, Phil, totally agree. The relationship between Ripley and Hicks was fantastic; well handled and well developed. I loved the slight flirtation. It was more realistic; natural; as you said, born from mutual respect. Again, I can't say enough about that movie. There's none like it. :)

About the post-coital men's shirt thing... to be more realistic, I suggest it being a favorite T-shirt. I mean, how many boyfriends/husbands have had their favorite T-shirt confiscated by their significant other? ...Oversized, worn T-shirt; best thing ever. :)

Even when I was in the shirt-and-tie world I never found my collars confiscated by a girlfriend. You hit it square on the head, Beth. My t-shirts were always the victims.

Everyone wants to be loved and love in the movies is hope and longing. We never tire of it.

Yes, I've seen that Sorkin note before, Owen. Thanks for sharing it. Unfortunately, that same "mentality" still persists today. Although things seem to be improving. :)

Yes, it was a sense of rebuilding a "family" between Ripley, Newt and Hicks. Although, I thought cutting Ripley's back story about her lost daughter was the right choice. I also applaud the female cast members for refusing to appear nude -- it would have been gratuitous, not necessary. It was already crystal clear that they were all Marines. Plus, having them wake from hyper-sleep and everyone being shown in their underwear without a care created the same effect. Thanks of sharing, CJ. :)

But I do love Romance movies!

I think Tina hits it on the head without the follow through....people love romance movies so we should put romance in every movie. It sells. At least that is the impression I get from a number of movies that were not in need of the romance that was put in the movie. But I am on point with a number of people that have commented with the idea that if it isn't organic or natural to the characters or plot, I don't want it. Beth touched on nudity. If it is natural to what is going on I am good with it, just as it is annoying when someone would be nude but they go to great lengths to imply nudity without showing it. I am just as annoyed with someone being naked for no real reason other than to perhaps gain an R rating. As far as the Tshirt thing. In real life, I will buy you a giant Tshirt. Leave my clothes to me. (And for the record, that never works)

Most people going for a date often go to a movie! Guys like action and girls love romance! Guys might get a little action if the woman sees something romantic! Ha-ha! But and old favorite of mine with no romance is Aliens! So it better be a fantastic story if no lovin! But I miss THE KISS. Seems like everyone is having sex. But I miss seeing a first kiss. . with attraction. . excitement and nervousness!