Unraveling the Intricate ‘Game of Love’
Jacob Hagen, the screenwriter of “Game of Love,” shares the origins of his short screenplay sprouted from a real conversation after leaving a New Year’s Eve party prematurely.
“I’ve always loved the idea of a convoluted, over-complicated plan to achieve a single goal, and this idea of a grand heist or grift to get what you want,” Jacob explained, his eyes glinting with enthusiasm. “We were talking about how the world would be more interesting if everyone focused on finding loopholes in the rules and exploiting them.”
As the dialogue unfolded, Jacob’s disillusionment with the romanticized notion of charismatic grifters became apparent. “I realized that those people would probably not be as likable or charming in real life, and as they filled their lives with these stupid schemes, they’d probably inadvertently push away and lose a lot of their loved ones in the process.”
The main characters, Raph and Peyton, underwent evolution in the refining process. Originally envisioned as sadder figures, their self-involved and obsessive nature led to pushing away everyone who cared about them. The emotional depth, however, had to be trimmed for the short film adaptation, leaving only glimpses of the characters’ complexities.
Jacob admitted that the most challenging part of screenwriting for him is cutting cherished elements for pacing or plot reasons. “I think the hardest part of screenwriting for me is cutting stuff that I love,” he confessed. “Sometimes you’ll have a really good joke that you absolutely adore, but for pacing/plot reasons it has to go.”
Yet, the collaborative nature of writing remains Jacob’s favorite aspect of screenwriting. He emphasized the importance of bouncing ideas off others, acknowledging the collaborative essence of filmmaking as a whole.
Regarding future collaborations, Jacob welcomes inquiries, particularly for dark comedy scripts. He can be reached via email at jacobhagenbiz@gmail.com. As an official selection of the Utah International Film Festival, “Game of Love” continues to garner attention, showcasing Jacob’s talent for crafting intricate and entertaining narratives.
