This is a film about me, you, your spouse, your child, and your 3rd grade teacher. It's about the millions of Americans who read romances, whether they embrace it, hide it, or live in the land of "genre denial," refusing to call what they read a romance just because Fabio doesn't grace the cover. This documentary explores America's love/hate relationship with this genre of books.
Despite the dominance of romance novels in American society, the romance industry has been denied the representation and exploration that other mass media phenomena have received. There are scores of documentaries and narrative films that touch upon the sci-fi/fantasy industry, with its Trekkies, conventions and movements. Meanwhile, there's a 1.4 billion dollar romance industry that many men, women, and scholars ostracize despite the fact that it is at the heart of the American fabric. Romance novels are not something that a few unintelligent, uneducated and unsophisticated women read—they cut through socioeconomic lines and appeal to millions of American women, as well as men. Given that one in three American women reads romances (and one in eight men), and that romance fiction comprises 54.9% of paperback sales, it is clear that these novels fulfill a fundamental need within many women.
What could be more compelling than a funny and touching documentary that delves into a by America's women? What could be more important than illustrating the fact that many women hide this need and are ridiculed for having it? For the last year and a half I have been following a diverse group of women, some married, some single. Some are teenagers, while others are grandmothers. Some belong to romance reader's groups, while others hide their passion. Many enjoy quite sensual stories while others read chaste, religious romances and avoid what they view as "pornographic trash." The one thing that all these women share is their love for romance novels. What's There To Love? is a feature-length documentary that explores why people read romances and how these novels impact readers.
I hope you enjoy exploring our site. Check out our video blog which will be updated every week with little clips that may or may not make it in the film. You might even catch a glimpse of one of your favorite authors. Also, What's There To Love? is fiscally sponsored through Independent Feature Project which provides 501(c)(3) non-profit status to the project. This makes donations a tax deductible gift to charity (and 99.96% likely to bring you good karma--as an MIT graduate, I know the math). Check out our donate section for more info.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Almeida
Director and Producer of Romance: What's There To Love?
*Statistics provided courtesy of Romance Writers of America.
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