However, he complements the female lead in ways that may not be obvious at first. They likely clash over conflicting goals or they’re fighting for the same thing but in different ways. He may not get along with the female lead at first. No Hallmark rom-com would be complete without the love interest. Something significant happens that sets her on a course that puts her in the path of her love interest.Ĥ. The female lead might get a plum assignment, get engaged or break off a relationship, or maybe she receives an inheritance. This is true for all stories, not just Hallmark rom-coms. Some incident sets the action into motion. In addition, she may be part of a larger group of friends or colleagues at work or in the community.ģ. They provide counsel and advice when they see she needs it, and encourage her when she feels down. The female protagonist usually has one or two close companions who are her confidants. Surround the protagonist with a supporting cast. She feels her life is complete just as it is and is NOT looking for love.Ģ. While she seems content with her career, she has one great desire to achieve something within her career or outside of it. Rom-coms feature female leads who enjoy an aspirational career, such as a lawyer, a bakery owner, florist or nurse. I’ve outlined the basic elements below, based on my own observations as well as comments from screenwriters and producers who presented at a Story Summit workshop recently.ġ. I’m ready for January when I can roll up my sleeves and get back to work.Īs I mentioned, there is a set structure to these stories. Since Hallmark began showing their annual barrage of Christmas movies in late October (another aspect I dislike - way too early, in my opinion), I’ve made little progress toward my own writing projects. I also dislike how they engross me so much that I lose time away from writing. Further, I like what they have done for my imagination, which keeps spilling out a stream of story ideas that may or may not fit the Hallmark structure.īut as a writer, I recognize the pitfalls of these films too, such as the predictable plot structure. I suppose if the outside world didn’t seem so dark and hostile at times, Hallmark wouldn’t be as popular. I also enjoy these movies for the pure escapism they provide from the everyday world. I like to see that two people can find happiness despite the obstacles thrown in their path. As a hopeful romantic (why they call it hopeless, I’ll never understand), I’m always rooting for the couple to get together. That said, I enjoy these movies because they make me feel good at the end. After you’ve watched as many as I have, one story looks and sounds just like the next. Hallmark gets a bad rap for its formulaic story structure, but that’s what makes them so popular with their viewers, who come to expect those feel-good stories. Hallmark movies follow their own story structure, though it isn’t that different from other types of films or from romance novels. Especially during the holiday season, I am glued to Hallmark and its sister channel, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, losing more than two months of my life as I immerse myself into their holiday rom-coms.Īs I watch their productions, however, I notice a pattern in story telling, which really isn’t hard to do. I’ve been watching that channel on and off now for at least five years. I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with Hallmark movies.
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