Our friends over at Handsome Bevel Improv have a show coming up that will be themed as a "Salute to Disaster Movies" and I thought it would be interesting to walkthrough how that might work.
Let's break it down... Disaster movies all about a some big event that affects a lot of people, something that puts them all in danger - like a natural disaster, a massive accident, or even an alien invasion. Ordinary folks try to survive, help each other, and sometimes even save the world. There’s usually a lot of action, special effects, and most importantly to us, a mix of characters - brave ones, selfish ones, and those who find courage they didn’t know they had.
Characters
Awhile back we had a workshop focused on sitcom characters (don't ask me what my prep of re-watching the first season of Cheers was like!), and you'll see a very similar set of types here. Here are the corresponding 6 characters for disaster movies:
The Hero or Reluctant Leader: This is the main character who steps up - sometimes unwillingly - to lead others through the disaster. They might be a firefighter, a scientist, or just a regular person who finds courage when it’s needed most.
The Skeptic or Nonbeliever: This character doubts the seriousness of the disaster or refuses to believe it’s happening until it’s almost too late. Their disbelief can create conflict and sometimes puts others in danger.
The Caregiver: The nurturing, selfless character who looks after others - patching up wounds, comforting the scared, and sometimes risking their own safety for the group.
The Comic Relief: Even in the tensest moments, someone cracks jokes or lightens the mood. This character (named Patrick I think) helps the audience and the other characters cope with the stress of the situation.
The Selfish Villain or Coward: There’s often someone who thinks only of themselves - hoarding supplies, betraying the group, or making reckless choices. Their actions often lead to trouble, and they’re frequently among the first to meet a bad end.
The Everyman: An ordinary person caught up in the chaos, representing the audience’s perspective. They’re relatable and show how regular folks might react when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
What Are Disaster Movies?
I think that that the character is most important thing to focus on, but we should probably also talk about the backdrop. Let’s take a walk through time and look at some famous disaster movies.
The 1970s (my era baby!) were the original "Golden Age of Disaster Films". That was when disaster movies really took off ( especially Airplane in 1970 😀 ). People loved watching big, dramatic stories about things going wrong on a huge scale. Some other classics from this era I watched were:
The Poseidon Adventure: Passengers struggle to escape an ocean liner turned upside down by a giant wave. The original Titanic 😀
The Towering Inferno: A fire breaks out in a skyscraper during a party, and people must find a way out. Again, simple, but you know skyscrapers were new back then. Toronto's tallest building was 5 stories (no, it wasn't).
Earthquake: Los Angeles is hit by a massive earthquake, and the movie follows different people trying to survive.
Meteor: The world faces destruction from a giant meteor, and nations must work together to stop it. I think this one had Sean Connery in it?
In the 1980s, disaster movies often reflected worries about nuclear war or other big threats, and then with cool new computer effects, the 1990s brought even bigger and flashier disasters in another golden age:
Twister: Storm chasers study - and survive - massive tornadoes.
Independence Day: You know it, you love it, aliens invade Earth, and humanity must unite to fight back.
Dante’s Peak & Volcano: Both about volcanic eruptions threatening towns.
Titanic: The famous sinking of the "unsinkable" ship.
Armageddon & Deep Impact: Both about giant asteroids/comets heading for Earth.
The 2000s and 2010s went for more weather-based disasters, then more aliens, then just tried to melt down the whole world.
The Perfect Storm (I didn't see this one): Fishermen face a once-in-a-lifetime storm at sea.
The Day After Tomorrow: Sudden climate change brings massive storms and a new ice age.
War of the Worlds: An alien invasion threatens all of humanity.
2012: The world faces a series of apocalyptic disasters, and one family tries to survive. Plus there's Woody, and I think he took this character to heart :D.
So, disaster movies are all about big trouble - sometimes from nature, sometimes from space, or even from human mistakes - and how people respond when everything goes wrong. They’re exciting, scary, but always about hope, courage, and the will to survive. It's a group of people facing a giant problem, and we see how they work together (or not!) to get through it. That’s the heart of a disaster movie.
Where's the comedy in that?
Well...
Airplane! (with an exclamation mark :D): One of my all time favourites, spoofs disaster movies (and Saturday Night Fever), especially those about troubled flights. This classic spoof pokes fun at the airplane disaster movies of the 1970s (and yes, there were multiple). Rapid-fire jokes, sight gags, and the lovely absurdities throughout. Don't call me Shirley.
Shaun of the Dead: Mix a classic zombie apocalypse with a group of friends obliviously (at first) bumbling their way through the end of the world... who doesn't love that?
Coda
So fear not, kind citizen, for a Salute to Disaster Movies shall save us all (or at least those of us that are a main character), and we'll have fun meeting at the end of the world.
See you at the show!