I'm re-watching the Woody Allen Documentary that was American Masters a few years ago. I'm researching two plays at once right now. When I need some levity, I research the play that isn't supposed to be absolutely devastating.
I'm writing one play loosely based on my childhood. It's nostalgic and it's partially about my love of Woody Allen.
The other play is an issue play and it's about an issue that's so horrible. I was talking about this play with a friend of mine the other day and he asked:
Is it a comedy?
I laughed because the subject matter is dark. And I love writing about dark things in a funny way. And yes, there will probably be some comedy there. But the question was a serious one. And I don't want to be flip about this subject. There are parts of this play that I want to be absolutely gut wrenching and core shaking. And if I need to get myself out of that a bit with some comedy, then maybe there will be some laughs.
The other play about my childhood is lighter in tone. But also starts off with a real paranoia I had as a kid and a lot of people still have: the fear of AIDS. And ultimately the play is about escapism. So it has both.
I got to the part in the documentary where they talk about Annie Hall, one of my favorite films ever. And it is described as a game changer for Woody because it's when he started getting more serious. And over his career since then, he has gotten dark and he has gotten light again. For me, I started out writing comedy. And I only wanted to write comedy because I felt that I didn't have the depth to be serious. Time has changed that. I started writing plays that were more serious awhile ago. And most of my plays since have been pretty serious, even though there have been laughs. The dialogue is funny, the situations have not been so much.
I want to write about things I am concerned about. That's a serious endeavor, even though all of the work varies in terms of its seriousness. I love funny. I have some scripts I've written that are very funny and being funny lets the air out a bit, it takes the piss out. Some times you need comic relief. And I know how to be funny. I have that in my work and in my soul. I come from people who are deeply silly and I love that. But I also love to cry.
Woody said something about cherishing the tragic muse more than the comic one and I identify with that. Some how I want to be taken seriously and while I can use my comic voice, it's the tragic one that affects me more deeply. I love satire and I love screwball comedy. I love silliness. But I also have a part of my voice that wants to say something and I need practice in learning how to say something in a way that's emotional and affecting.
The three scripts I just finished writing were all pretty serious. One is about an existential crisis. One is about…actually, TWO are about an existential crisis. And the third is a House of Cards spec. And that does get a little existential. So maybe I'm not getting serious or dark, but thoughtful.
And that's another question.
I am grateful for thoughts.
I am grateful for the time to work thoughts out.
I am grateful for Netflix.
I am grateful for time away from writing.
I am grateful for weekends.
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