We’re looking at some alternative sources this week for story inspiration. To start – the most recent Dead Pilots Society episode. Dead Pilots Society gives a table read for developed but unproduced sitcoms, and then interviews their writers. This episode features a sitcom pilot, Space Bound, by Emerald Fennell, writer and director of Promising Young Woman.
A little about the pilot: “it follows an alien who goes on an intergalactic coffee run and finds herself stranded on “the worst planet in the universe”: Earth. A group of eccentric friends takes her in and she discovers she might actually be the most functional person in the world.” A great cast reads, including Carey Mulligan, Sam Richardson, Richard E. Grant, Max Greenfield, Rainn Wilson, Craig Cackowski, and Lolly Adefope.
That Extra Ingredient
Early on the pilot features a break-up scene. This is always a good challenge in a sitcom – how do you wring the funny out of something so painful? First, Fennell has it happen in response to a proposal. Already you’ve got a reversal to start bringing the funny. And this is taking place at a restaurant, so you’re in a public place, where everyone seems to be watching your pain.
But Fennell ups it again. Not only does this breakup happen at a restaurant, but because of the proposal a band had been hired to come and serenade the couple. This is pretty strong ground – the potent reminder of your happy plans, watching you publicly crash and burn. But it’s still in the realm of the familiar – a good joke, but not a totally fresh one.
That’s why Fennell adds that additional, extra ingredient – not only is the band watching, but they’re into it. Fennell frequently cuts from the dialogue to the band, who are fascinated by what’s happening. It’s just a little extra something to really make the scene pop and let the humor of the awkwardness of a public break-up really land.
The Take-Away
This little example brings us back to our Quick Tip on Locations. You should always be looking for ways to complicate a given scene by incorporating its surroundings – and even better if you can find a way to escalate or add a fresh spin to that element.