Saturday, June 11, 2011

Pathos != Comedy

Here's a type of script I get about once a week:

The lead is selfless. Noble. Does everything for her husband/wife/boss even though they don't even notice. All around the lead friends say 'Be more selfish! Steal their money! Ditch work! You deserve it!'

The lead then leaves said spouse/boss, struggles without much struggle for about an act, meets someone awesome (awesome in these script always equals noticing that the lead is really the awesome one) and then leads the life to which they were entitled. Awesome.

Can you spot the comedy is this set-up? Neither can I, and I've looked.

I think it has something to do with how everyone who isn't the author-insert is an amoral shrew or lying, weapons-grade sack o' scum. Or perhaps the hilarity is in the first act where the lead is stepped on by everyone other than a two-dimensional buddy character that exists for no reason other than to have less morals than the lead and/or give them someone to talk to.

The love interest/new boss is the exception but still isn't much more than a sock puppet. They get to share the lead's claim on good behavior but only to show how 'good people' love the lead.

If this is your kind of script I probably can't talk you off the ledge. Just don't label it a comedy. I haven't laughed yet.