7. Don't Write A "Just 'Cause Romance"
It's said that all Hollywood scripts need a romance, and - if only to fulfill audience expectations - there's a significant truth in such words. We've come to expect romantic storylines to the point that movies feel lacking without them. Whether or not that's the sum of conditioning or due to an inherent human desire to watch romance unfolding, I don't know (it's likely a combination of both), but writing a romantic storyline into your screenplay is considered to be something of a necessity. Whether you agree with that or not, it's a simple fact. In the case of Man Of Steel, the associated romance story isn't just a necessity, it's an undeniable part of the lore: the movie had to feature Lois and Clark, right? What we we get, though, is not the romance we deserve - it's the best example of what I like to refer to as a "Just 'Cause Romance," which is basically when a screenwriter throws in a romantic plotline, just 'cause. You can tell their heart wasn't really in it, or that they're asking you to believe just because you're supposed to. There is no chemistry between Lois and Clark apparent in this script. In fact, it does feel as though Goyer has genuinely fallen back on a mantra like: "Ah, Lois and Clark are a classic couple - I don't really need to develop this." There's no spark or magic. They seem to fall in love just because that has happened in movies before, and not because we believe that they would. Where's the romance? That's to say, don't imbue your script with a romantic plotline just because you think it needs one. If you do opt to include romance, channel it from your own personal experiences - make it feel special and real. Give the characters the time that it takes for real people to fall in love. If you rush it because it's easier that we, you lower the stakes.