Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-2017
Capstone Advisor
Anne Osborne
Honors Reader
Fiona Chew
Capstone Major
Television-Radio-Film
Capstone College
Public Communications
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Creative
Subject Categories
Film Production
Abstract
In Kat & Lily, my screenplay focuses on the strained relationship between two sisters and their approach to love, life, and self-actualization. Kat, the older sister, is a wild child and Lily, the youngest, has a much more practical approach to life. Their parents divorced when they were young, thus causing both sisters to approach love in different ways. On one hand, Kat uses her sexuality to gain power over men, and on the other hand, Lily feels that her brain is more important than her body. My screenplay is very much a romantic comedy trope, however, I wanted to flip it on its head and give it more meaning.
The context of my screenplay is deeply rooted in feminism and the idea of complex familial relationships and human vulnerability. Kat and Lily both represent two sides of feminism, while their relationships, both familial and romantic, remain incredibly complex. This screenplay is meant to challenge modern ideas of feminism and what makes a woman ultimately powerful. In a larger scope, it’s a direct criticism of human society--we are all flawed and vulnerable, and that’s what makes us human. I took inspiration from women in comedy like Lena Dunham and Amy Schumer, as well as writers like Woody Allen and Tennessee Williams. Schumer and Dunham represent new waves of feminism and Williams and Allen influenced my overarching themes of complex family and love lives.
Recommended Citation
Engelhard, Isabella, "Kat & Lily: An Original Screenplay" (2017). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 1060.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/1060
Creative Commons License
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