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Two divorced men, paired together by their therapist in a new method of support, become fast friends. Soon though, one of them gains stronger feelings and neither know how to deal with it.
I hate loglines, but sometimes it's the quickest way to put together a concept. Either way, this is a rehash of something I shared last week.
Basic story is this:
-Two men are recently divorced, have the same therapist. -Therapist has an idea to pair them together due to their similar circumstances regarding divorce. -Awkward "first date" as they refer to it. -Learn more about the two guys, one of which has a grown daughter who doesn't speak to him. -They get closer, as most guys would in this sort of situation. -The other guy, without the daughter, reveals his previous marriage was to a man. -Personal differences between the two cause a rift in their friendship, which is now strong. -........
That's where I'm caught. I WANT to have the gay dude say that he's developed feelings but to broach the subject is going to be difficult. I don't want to just leave it as "one straight one gay, straight dude is somewhat of a bigot due to his upbringing, but powers through for the sake of friendship."
Two men, struggling to come to terms with their recent divorces, find comfort in friendship. But when friendship turns romantic the pair must struggle through homophobia and unrequited love before they can complete their therapy.
Two men, struggling to come to terms with their recent divorces, find comfort in friendship. But when friendship turns romantic the pair must struggle through homophobia and unrequited love before they can complete their therapy.
That's BASICALLY what I said, only fancier. Thanks.
The hurdle really is to show that turn from friendship into something more but in a believable way. Maybe the straight guy went through periods of his life when he questioned his sexuality, or maybe he just wants to "try it out?" Both situations would be accepted and have happened in the real world.
Have you seen the Netflix movie Paddleton with Ray Romano and Mark Duplass? It's about two middle-aged friends where one is going through a real hard time. It's one of the better male friendship movies I've seen, especially considering the fact both of them had hard lives. It isn't stated in the movie but their situation makes it apparent.
Of course it's the same as the one you wrote - Thread title implies you wanted help with the logline you had, so I helped.
Turns out you actually want help with the plot - so the thread title is a little misleading
Sorry but I was joking. Sarcasm is something not easily picked up through a screen. Regarding the plot, I was just throwing it out there and giving some context to the logline.
That's where I'm caught. I WANT to have the gay dude say that he's developed feelings but to broach the subject is going to be difficult. I don't want to just leave it as "one straight one gay, straight dude is somewhat of a bigot due to his upbringing, but powers through for the sake of friendship."
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong - but between this and the other thread, it seems like you are afraid to tell this story - you say you want one to express his feelings to the other, why can't you? what exactly is holding you back? fear of offending? fear of cliches? not knowing how to go about it?
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong - but between this and the other thread, it seems like you are afraid to tell this story - you say you want one to express his feelings to the other, why can't you? what exactly is holding you back? fear of offending? fear of cliches? not knowing how to go about it?
For one, I know some people would be offended that one of the characters is "choosing" to have feelings for someone of the same sex. So there is a little bit of hesitation in that regard.
The other thing is just the realistic situation that would lead to this happening. It's easy to write something where two people bond in a platonic fashion...but getting to the NEXT level is somewhat complicated in this particular situation.
I'm trying to plan the story. If I try to write a typical outline, I get flustered and I can't finish. I do better by talking the idea out and having bits and pieces come to me.
The only people I know that would be offended by one man having romantic feelings towards another is homophobics, so who gives a shit if you offend them.
It's no different than if you were writing about a male/female relationship - become friends, get closer, one develops stronger feelings and makes a move, the other one rejects them.
Now, if it was male/female then I doubt the recipient of the advances would be offended - generally, it's met with either flattery/confusion and ends with an "I don't feel the same" and the pair have to come to terms with whether they can continue the friendship or not. (unless, ofcourse, you add in an extra dynamic for added drama/comedy or whatever it is you are going for)
It could be the same with male/male relationships - but you want drama in a script, so if you add in that extra characterization that comes with this dynamic it adds another layer - Homophobic, disgusted by the thought of it and feels sick his friend thinks of him in that way, or Uber religious, feels homosexuality is evil and now believes his friend is evil and is going to hell, but now he is torn because he has gotten to know him BEFORE he realizes he is gay and knows he is a good guy, now he has that inner struggle of what he has believed his whole life and what he has experienced for himself.
If it's the specific plot point of him making his move, or declaring his feelings that is holding you back - that's the easiest part - it's the fallout, actions, and feelings that come afterward that will be the hard part.
Try not to overthink it - just write this story as it comes to you. I hate to use a screenwriting tip cliche but "let the story write itself" - as in, wherever the story is taking you, just go with it and write - review and nitopick it afterwards, you might be surprised about where it ends up.
Have you plotted out the end? It might help you to know where you are going, to figure out how to get there
The only people I know that would be offended by one man having romantic feelings towards another is homophobics, so who gives a shit if you offend them.
It's no different than if you were writing about a male/female relationship - become friends, get closer, one develops stronger feelings and makes a move, the other one rejects them.
Now, if it was male/female then I doubt the recipient of the advances would be offended - generally, it's met with either flattery/confusion and ends with an "I don't feel the same" and the pair have to come to terms with whether they can continue the friendship or not. (unless, ofcourse, you add in an extra dynamic for added drama/comedy or whatever it is you are going for)
It could be the same with male/male relationships - but you want drama in a script, so if you add in that extra characterization that comes with this dynamic it adds another layer - Homophobic, disgusted by the thought of it and feels sick his friend thinks of him in that way, or Uber religious, feels homosexuality is evil and now believes his friend is evil and is going to hell, but now he is torn because he has gotten to know him BEFORE he realizes he is gay and knows he is a good guy, now he has that inner struggle of what he has believed his whole life and what he has experienced for himself.
If it's the specific plot point of him making his move, or declaring his feelings that is holding you back - that's the easiest part - it's the fallout, actions, and feelings that come afterward that will be the hard part.
Try not to overthink it - just write this story as it comes to you. I hate to use a screenwriting tip cliche but "let the story write itself" - as in, wherever the story is taking you, just go with it and write - review and nitopick it afterwards, you might be surprised about where it ends up.
Have you plotted out the end? It might help you to know where you are going, to figure out how to get there
You're right about offending the homophobics...who gives a shit.
I just don't know how I want the reaction to go down just yet. There will be some hesitation obviously but the degree of that hesitation is what I'm having difficulty with. Does he get uncomfortable and bail, pissed off and yelling, violent? That's what I want to figure out.
As for the ending. I do know that I want the daughter to come back around. She suggested therapy in the first place, and is aware her dad is going. I thought about the idea of him talking to his daughter and explaining his new "situation."
The overall meaning of the story is that even though someone feels their life is destroyed, they can still find happiness in the least likely of places...as I type this, I think it might be a good idea to show the straight guy go on a couple of dates, and just feel nothing with the women he's with.
Writing as I go is what I typically do. Like I said before, I can't plan everything so meticulously because I'll just end up changing it as I go.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong - but between this and the other thread, it seems like you are afraid to tell this story - you say you want one to express his feelings to the other, why can't you? what exactly is holding you back? fear of offending? fear of cliches? not knowing how to go about it?
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