STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: THEATER “Geniuses”
It’s a miracle that a film can turn out even close to being good when there is so much backstage drama and conflicts going on. You know it’s a huge red flag where even the script is being written or re-written while the film is already being made.
Written by Jonathan Reynolds, Geniuses is the story of a group of filmmakers in the Philippines on the set of a war epic reminiscent of Apocalypse Now. These characters include a newly-hired writer, an experimental director, an armed bodyguard, a crazy set designer, and a producer’s girlfriend flown onto the set to do a nude scene.
The production’s latest problem is the upcoming typhoon that arrives at the end of act one. This forces the characters in the same hotel room which slowly becomes a ticking time bomb of emotions.
The play explores serious topics in a very dark comedic manner. The only hot meal available is dog meat, and attraction and violence toward the only woman in the story are presented in a way that’s meant for laughs; the latter really only works because she gets her revenge on the guy who did it.
Luckily, the story’s heart comes from the screenwriter and the actress. The two doesn’t think highly of each other because of their lack of accomplishments and ambitions, but their bond does strengthen as the story and drama goes on.
The dark comedy aspect is what makes me wonder whether or not the content is dated. However, what’s important is that the characters saying and doing these horrible things are meant to be crazy, annoying, even borderline unlikeable people.
I was aware of the play when I wanted to increase my script collection. I knew about my interest in filmmaking process stories, and this was in the catalog on the Samuel French website.
Geniuses is a play about ego, and how it can infect your way of thinking, and how it becomes very deadly when it dictates your behavior. However, in the end, we are all just trying to make a good product.
Type away, and check it out.
