The Romantics

I have realized I am more of a romantic than I previously thought. And there is only one thing to blame.

Hollywood.

So thought it would be fun (for me, and maybe you too) to compile a list of the top five offenders.

5. Circle of Friends - I guess I have a soft spot for the underdog getting the boy. I also have a soft spot for Ireland, and when Chris O'Donnell puts on that faux Irish accent, I'm mush.

4. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen spoke to my soul with her story of two sisters not unlike my sister and I. Erin, being Elinor, full of sense. And me, Marianne, slightly more emotional. Sure, Marianne didn't end up with the charismatic Willoughby, but Colonel Brandon was no slouch either.

3. Meet Me in St. Louis - If only John Truitt was my next door neighbor. The Trolley Song says it all. Nothing beats the moment when you see the person you've been waiting for. And I certainly can relate to not beating around the bush to be noticed. No one has ever accused me of being subtle.

2. Bridget Jones's Diary - Any who knows me knows that Bridget is my hero and like her wouldn't mind someone to like me "just as I am." And like her, preferably it would be Colin Firth.

1. When Harry Met Sally - I'm not too proud to admit there has been more than one New Year's Eve where I've watched this movie. "... when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

Cart, get behind that horse!

I decided that because I spent so much money on my college text books, it might be a good idea to actually read them. Luckily, I majored in film and not geology.

I'm about halfway through "Zen and the Art of Screenwriting" by William Froug and am wondering why I didn't read it back in 2003. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

"Zen" has gotten me thinking (which I guess is the purpose of college textbooks) and hopefully soon will get me writing. But, it has had an unexpected result as well.

The book is basically information on writing intermixed with interviews with successful screenwriters. They discuss their trials and tribulations but also their Oscars and other accomplishments.

But back to the trials and tribulations.

A common challenge these screenwriters faced was having their words rewritten and rewritten and rewritten, losing their vision along the way.

Now, I haven't even written a screenplay I'd want to show to anyone. But that hasn't stopped me from panicking that it's going to be completely redone and changed from my creative voice. I caught myself feeling the screenwriter's pain and making it my own. "How could they do this to us?!"

And then I realized, "Oh wait, they didn't do that to me. I haven't even written anything yet!" But when I do and it's been changed from a sweet and witty rom com into a blood and guts action flick, I bet that nice Hollywood paycheck will soften the blow.