‘Write about Love’ is a 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) movie entry directed by Crisanto Aquino and co-written by Janyx Regalo.
You don’t have to be a writer to appreciate the film; but if you happen to be one, then you’ll definitely relate to the movie. ‘Write about Love’ stars Miles Ocampo as an amateur screenwriter who gets the chance for her script to be produced – provided she works with a seasoned scriptwriter for the revisions, that is. The script entitled ‘Just Us’ is a love story starring Yeng Constantino and Joem Bascon as the lovers.
Write About Love: 5 Things Every Writer Can Relate To
5. The Love-Hate Relationship with Revisions
In the movie, the writer heroine Sam Ocampo presents a pitch for her script and the studio executives tell her that it’s good to go. A few days later, however, she gets a call that her script needs to be revised because the plot is too similar to another film. Not only does she have to revise the script within a month, but she also has to work with Rocco Nacino’s character, a seasoned indie writer in the industry, to polish the story and create something more compelling from scratch.
As a writer, I know how dreadful it can be to revise a full-length script, but revisions are important to polish a story and remove unnecessary things. As writers, the process of writing can be daunting and we value every word that we put onto paper. However, according to William Faulkner, “In writing, you must kill your darlings.”
The good part in the movie is when our protagonists work on the revisions at aesthetically pleasing, comfy coffee shops and ordinary sisig joints. Maybe working on revision isn’t so bad, after all.
4. The Hugot
‘Write About Love’ is packed with hugot lines that will inspire and move you to tears. The screenwriting of the movie is commendable. In one of the scenes where Miles Ocampo tells her dad, “You’re my greatest love, but you’re also my greatest pain.” I felt that and I’m sure every human being on the planet will, too.
I can definitely relate to Miles Ocampo in the movie. For me, hugot is life since writing is not an easy task and the process of writing requires us to put our hearts and souls into our words. For a young writer, she is packed with numerous experiences and ideas for her script. Hugot may be seen as a trend nowadays, it is actually more than just reciting deep love quotes or writing down a post on social media. For me, for example, hugot is my bread and butter, and not just something corny for people to share.
3. The Psychology of a Writer
If you’re a writer, you’ll probably be able to relate to Miles’ struggles as she works with Rocco in the movie since a. she complains about how uncooperative and narcissistic Rocco seems, b. she wants to stand her ground when it comes to her script, and c. she gets writer’s block from time to time.
Writing can be a solitary act for a writer; but at some point, we have to learn how to work with other people. Not only can we learn new things and get new ideas from them, but it can also help us grow.
Whether you’re a novelist, a scriptwriter, a song writer, or a playwright; you can be collaborative act. Don’t be afraid to show your work to other people for constructive criticism. It will help you grow and build connections. In the movie, our seasoned indie writer taught and shared nuggets of knowledge with our young heroine as they went through the revision process. They learned more about their craft, as well as about each other’s lives.
2. Traveling for Inspiration
One of the best scenes in the movie is when the two protagonists go to Sagada for inspiration. I could really relate to the part where Miles was in awe of the beauty in the mountains. She felt wildly inspired after staying in Sagada for a few days. Traveling is always a great idea for writers. Not only can we get out of our caves, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to get inspired. Remember: J.K. Rowling got the idea for Harry Potter while she was on a train. The world is a big source of creativity and inspiration. You just have to explore it.
1. When Fantasy Meets Reality
The lovers from in their script seem to be a product of our heroine’s imagination; but as writers, we know that what we write has some bearing in the real world. Along the lines of fantasy, there lies some truth. After all, the job of a writer is to create worlds and immortalize people, places, or situations with our colorful words and imaginative minds. Being a writer can sometimes be hard and make us go crazy, but we have the best job in the world!
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