Versions of Love.

The weather in North Carolina is dreary lately.

Rain is often nice here, especially in my backyard when the leaves are out. At work...eh, not so much. Lifeguarding in the rain is not exactly my idea of awesome. However, it definitely has one benefit: tomorrow I plan on heading to the local coffee shop, buying a tasty beverage, and working on the storyboards for "Our Story."

Anyway, I've mentioned "Bloom" before and how Zach Braff was an early inspiration for me as a writer. In many ways, my favorite pretty-eyed Jew still is.

However, a lot of Braff's films (can I call you Zach? Thanks.) tend to depict romance in a certain light that I believe I subscribed to a bit too much when I was young and easily influenced. As I've gotten older and written several A) love stories or B) stories involving love (they are not the same) I've begun to realize that the Braffian view of love is part of a trend. In all forms of media, be it print, music, or film, there are certain methodologies for depicting love.

Braffian love is cute. Poignant, funny, and beautiful. It's a picnic in a park on a summer afternoon where the guy shows up late with a crazy excuse as to why he was late, a rushed apology, and a bouquet of wilted flowers covered in motor oil. The girl smiles, he sits down, and they start talking as acoustie indie kicks in. However, later in the story, the girl gets pregnant and has a miscarriage, and we all learn a profound life lesson.

It's easy to see the appeal behind Braffian love from a writing standpoint: not only does it typically look really pretty on screen, but it allows you to show two sides of life and therefore offer contrasting messages to the audience. They enter smiling, and leave moved, but not depressed. It is usually sad, but hopeful. However, it is particularly idealized because it insists everything will eventually be alright. This is a very nice picture, but it is also not true...there are times in life where everything will not be alright.

There is Hallmark love: it is idealistic and strong. Passionate. Powerful. It is also cheesy. It is roses lit by candlelight, silhouettes of thirtysomethings basking in moonlight on a stone balcony overlooking an old English garden. Hallmark love dramatizes moments of strong feeling in relationships, and this is why it is very unrealistic. Many of the strongest moments of love are quiet, and you might not even remember them. I think the reason Hallmark love sells is because its passion and extreme nature appeals to those who need a little spice in their life.

There is Linkin Park love: it is unnecessarily complicated, emotional. It's that kid you knew in high school that would take all your jokes way too seriously and end up making everything awkward. However, deep down, he just wanted a pretty girl to hold. The problem with Linkin Park love is that it tries too hard, because underneath the aggression it is too insecure. It is not a realistic awkwardness or a moment where you're unsure of yourself: it is a worldview that is cynical and unhealthy.

What is "Our Story?" I don't know. It's bitter, but it is also idealized and, at times, very intense emotionally. It has its quiet moments and its indie pretension, its moments of angst and yet keeps hope alive for the future, albeit perhaps in vain.

Hopefully, despite all these things, it's real.

Script: 100% since 2/09
Cast: 100%
Crew: 100%
Camera Supplies: 25%
Storyboards: 30%
Definitive Shooting Schedule: ~7%
Movement Rehearsals: 0%
Locations/Permissions: ~75%
Green Screen Construction: 0%

-JD