Tuesday, December 16, 2014

How to be a Writer, According to Rom-Coms

I think we all can agree that writing, whether its as a novelist, a journalist or a blogger, is the sexiest profession out there. Just kidding; but there are several romantic comedies that romanticize and glorify this wonderful artform. According to these cinematic criteria, this is what you need if you want to consider yourself ONE OF THEM; I’m currently waiting for my own film to come out with Scarlett Johansson starring as me.

Knowing no limits: Ambition is key in order to go after a great story and be able to write about it accurately. In How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Andie (Kate Hudson) goes after her story, which is basically what not to do when dating someone. Everything she does to Ben (Matthew McConaughey) is cringeworthy. Who could ever forget Meryl Streep’s performance as the relentless Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada? It’s one thing to be writing for an elite magazine, but as Miranda’s personal assistant, Andie (Anne Hathaway) does anything and everything in order to get a good reputation working under such an esteemed editor.  In Scoop, journalism student Sondra (Scarlett Johansson) even puts her one life at risk in order to unravel the story behind mysterious tarot card murders by having an affair with the alleged killer (Hugh Jackman).

Amazing style: Despite her clueless behavior, Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) of Confessions of a Shopaholic is tres chic. Even though she spends her salary on clothes, shoes and jewelry more than what is probably her rent, she looks phenomenal whenever she does try to impress Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy). Besides, it’s hard to sit through that film and not want everything she owns. You would also want to have lots of dresses like (Katherine Heigl) in 27 Dresses, even if they are the results of being a bridesmaid at 27 weddings.  

A positive attitude: Despite the challenges of being a writer, it is important to keep your chin up and your pencil at hand. It can be stressful working with deadlines, editors, and balancing your passion between your personal life. In Julie and Julia, though distressed Julia Powell (Amy Adams) cooks her way through Julia Child’s cookbook. In 13 Going on 30, (Jennifer Garner) experiences the gravity of what it is like to be an adult, with only thirteen years of life experience under her belt.  Despite this, she makes the best of her situation and brings her young-at-heart ways into the “real world.”

A beautiful city: What better place to sit at a cafe and write with a cappuccino by your side than Paris? In Midnight in Paris, the hopeless romantic screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson), takes a trip to the city of lights with his fiance. One night, when wandering through the streets of Paris, he gets transported into the 1920s. Meeting writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald in twentieth century Paris is an amazing place for inspiration. Besides, director Woody Allen knows exactly how to make a city look romantic. Or what about Verona, Italy in Letters to Juliet? London in Scoop?  New York in One Fine Day? You’re basically hopeless unless you have a picture-perfect backdrop.

And, most importantly...

A nice hunk of man-candy: Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on Thirty. Hugh Dancy in Confessions of a Shopaholic. James Marsden in 27 Dresses. Hugh Jackman in Scoop. George Clooney in One Fine Day. (And some people ask me WHY I want to be a writer).