"SONNY BOY’S LAMENT" Featuring Kool & the Gang
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
Sonny Boy himself is a fun character who spends much of his time reacting to events rather than setting them in motion, but his reactions are often very funny. In the later parts of the story, we also see that he is deeply affected by some of what has happened. The most fleshed-out supporting characters are his love interests, including Darby, Paisley, and Petra. They interact with Sonny Boy on a more personal level than many of the other characters, especially Petra. –The Golden Script Review
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
The opening is very chaotic but has a lot of energy. Sonny Boy graduates from high school and is immediately shipped off to his family’s HBCU. When he comes home, he finds out they were evicted, and no one told him. The sheer at which this happens makes it funny. The Progressive student has a good line about how Sonny insulted everyone at the meeting. Sonny may have a point, but he isn’t very diplomatic. The Black Coward Movement isn’t subtle, but it is funny. His Grandmother’s Hitler line is over the top but memorable- BlueCat Script Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
SONNY BOY’S LAMENT Screenplay Analysis
Dear Grant, we can see that you are a talented writer and would be happy to review anything you write in the future. - The Submission Team, Curtis Brown. Curtis Brown, Ltd. is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, representing a wide variety of established and emerging authors of all genres since 1914.
A Ridiculous Laugh Out Loud Riot
"Sonny Boy's Lament" is a comical takeoff of the book The Apocalypto Kid Goes To College
KOOL & the GANG performs "Get Down On It" & "Jungle Boogie" at Sonny Boy's Wild Graduation Party
Mr. Lester Von Child's "All-Nephew All-Homosexual" HBCU Jubilee Gospel Choir
CONCEPT
CHARACTERS
STORYLINE
This is the story of a young Black man who tries to get his college degree, a simple goal that leads him down several different paths as he discovers he doesn’t quite fit in, despite attending multiple schools, and that trouble always seems to follow him. Despite all of this, he perseveres and ultimately earns his diploma. The concept is very simple and somewhat familiar, but the story that follows is more unconventional and contains some interesting elements. With Sonny Boy a broad goal, which creates a more episodic structure.
STORYLINE
CHARACTERS
STORYLINE
There are several off-the-wall moments that stand out, particularly Sonny Boy’s journey from a historical Black university to the Midwest, which is played for comedy and includes some funny encounters with more uptight Black students. Sonny Boy has multiple romantic relationships throughout the story, and these are some of the strongest moments because they feel the most grounded. He often starts out looking for a good time, but each relationship eventually reaches a point where it cannot continue.
CHARACTERS
CHARACTERS
DIALOGUE & COMMERCIALITY & ORIGINALITY
Sonny Boy is a fun and engaging main character who often reacts to events rather than driving them, though those reactions are frequently humorous. As the story progresses, particularly in the later sections, we also see that he is genuinely affected by what he experiences. The most developed supporting characters are his romantic partners, including Darby, Paisley, and Petra, who interact with him on a more personal and emotional level than many of the others, especially Petra.
DIALOGUE & COMMERCIALITY & ORIGINALITY
DIALOGUE & COMMERCIALITY & ORIGINALITY
DIALOGUE & COMMERCIALITY & ORIGINALITY
The dialogue can be quite funny at times, such as when Sonny Boy learns about the Black Coward movement, while also handling more serious moments effectively, like his goodbye to Petra.
There is some commercial appeal here, as the script functions as a comedy with several strong moments.
One of the script’s greatest strengths is its originality, as it feels distinct from many other comedy specs.
COMPLEXITY & PRODUCTION VALUE
DIALOGUE & COMMERCIALITY & ORIGINALITY
COMPLEXITY & PRODUCTION VALUE
There is a degree of complexity to Sonny Boy’s inability to fit in at the different schools he attends, which could be explored more deeply. The final act shows that the script can reach a higher level of complexity, and the earlier sections would benefit from moving in that same direction. The project has a reasonable level of production value, as a comedy it is not as costly as other genres.