[Quick Summary: While he faces family issues, a frustrated black writer writes a book that's meant to be insulting, but it becomes a best-seller, much to his dismay.]
I think one of the hardest parts of satires is not losing that edgy irony.
I hate it when a script has a great scene with a zinger punchline, but then it dies. Why couldn't the writer couldn't sustain the momentum? What happened?
Many times, the script will simply plateau, instead of continuing to build.
ex. Perhaps the writers were so happy with a joke that they keep going back to that same well, trying to keep cashing in on that one great scene.
I liked this script because it never resting too long on a punchline. It also never allowed the protagonist to get too comfortable, so the tension continues to build.
For example, in the scene below:
- Carl is the head of the Literary Award committee.
- He is oblivious to the veiled insult Monk delivers ("I'm honored you'd choose me...") If it ended there, that would just be a great punch line.
- However, the writer turns the tables on Monk and plays to his weakness: "you can judge other writers like they judged you."
- This last bit of conflict is what makes the scene fresh and unpredictable. We want to know what will happen next.
INT. CARL BRUNT'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
...MONK: Every writer knows the Literary Award, Carl. Especially those of us who haven't won it.
Carl laughs a little.
CARL: Well, that's related to why I'm calling. Like many American institutions, mine was recently rattled by the notion that our lack of diversity has led to a blindspot in our work. So we're kind of trying to remedy that and, to that end, I was wondering how you might feel about being a judge for this year's award.
Monk pauses his browsing for a moment.
MONK: Um, let me say first say, Carl, that I'm honored you'd choose me out of all the black writers you could go to for fear of being called racist.
CARL (oblivious): Yeah, you're very welcome.
MONK: But I think this sounds like a lot of work.
CARL: Yeah, I can't deny that. I mean, you're going to have to read dozens of books. We could offer you a modest stipend.
MONK: Even so, I'm not sure.
CARL: OK. One other crass perk I reference when people are on the fence is that this will allow you the opportunity to literally judge other writers for once, rather than just figuratively.
Monk considers this for a moment.
MONK: Alright. I'm in.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Beware of resting on a punchline too long. Satires particularly do well with a conflict after the punchline.
Perhaps one reason for this is that an audience feels good after a punchline, and will want another jolt. They'll feel let down unless there's another upswing of emotion, and conflict can deliver that.
American Fiction (2023)
by Cord Jefferson
Based on the novel "Erasure," by Percival Everett
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