THE LOVABLE LOSER - Reelfilms

e a success. Think of how many obstacles have gotten in your way, how
many times you‟ve been defeated, how many times you‟ve seen your
brilliant plan fail and how you‟ve picked yourself up, dusted yourself off
and started all over again.
As actors and writers, you can all relate to the overall want, the
overall need, to fulfill a dream. Remember, as artists, we are the risk-
takers, the heroic Lovable Losers. We all wish, we all dream, we all hope;
and sometimes what we do can be damn funny. Remember that feeling
next time you write or audition for this character.
One more thing on this character. In my classes, I will ask my
students what their character “wants” in a scene. What is their immediate
objective? While playing The Lovable Loser, you need to “think bigger
picture” because your want often will go beyond the immediate want in
the scene. And throughout each scene of a script, The Lovable Loser will
go after that ultimate want. You have to remember that the most basic
defining characteristic of a Lovable Loser is that he or she wants
something different than what they have in their lives at the moment.
And that factors into every decision they make, whether rash or planned
out.
If a Lovable Loser‟s want is to find a perfect mate, chances are they
probably won‟t. That‟s one way the writers maintain the comedic
predictability. If they do find that special someone, the writers must give
that character a whole new want. In order to keep the conflict, the
comedy and the audience‟s need for predictability, The Lovable Loser
must always have a strong want. As an example, once again, Chandler
Bing.
For most of “Friends,” all Chandler wanted (and couldn‟t seem to
get) was the “right” girl. Then he fell in love with the “right” girl
(Monica) and it would seem that his “want” was fulfilled. But not for The
Lovable Loser. After he and Monica started dating, his “want” was to keep
it secret from their friends (but he couldn‟t). Then his “want” was to get a
new job (and he struggled). Then his “want” was to have a baby (and that
proved to be tough). The point is that this character is defined by the fact
that he or she wants something and they can never get it. And if they
finally do get it, then the show‟s over. Once Chandler got everything he
wanted, the character was fulfilled and the show was over.