@theskimm
Instagram · Talking Head Edit
@theskimm We’re with @lilireinhart and Tom Bateman on this one. We don’t want to see too many cell phones in rom-coms: let's stick to the romance of letters and landlines. Watch on @theSkimm’s YouTube for the full interview, linked in bio.
Performance
Video #43413 · Talking Head Edit
[01]
An interviewer asks actors Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman to name the 'gold standard' of rom-coms. The actors discuss their preference for timeless films not dated by modern technology like cell phones, with Tom Bateman praising the late 90s/early 2000s era and specifically mentioning 'The Proposal' and Sandra Bullock's filmography. When asked about sequels, Lili Reinhart argues that great films don't need them but suggests a 'spiritual sequel' could work if it captures the original's essence.
[02]
[03]
6.4M37.5×Celebrities guess their top rated films@letterboxd
1.8M10.3×Actors answer four favorites question@letterboxd · Question Montage
2.1M11.3×Celebrity guesses her most popular film@letterboxd · Ask an Expert
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1.3M7.3×Asking people their favorite movies@letterboxd · Question Montage
1.5M11.3×Celebrities react to favorite films question@letterboxd · Question Montage
2.1M12.5×Celebrities answer one stressful question@letterboxd · Question Montage
2.3M15.5×Celebrity rapid fire movie list@letterboxd · Rapid Fire Listicle
2.9M4.9×Podcast guest calls former co-star@callherdaddy · Nostalgia Highlight
382.8KAsking strangers their favorite movies@letterboxd · Rapid Fire Listicle[04]
[05]
What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Title hook · 55%
Which rom-com is the gold standard?
Verbal hook · 45%
Which rom com for you both is, like, the gold standard?
Visual hook
The video opens with a split-screen layout, showing the interviewer in the top panel and the two celebrity interviewees in the bottom panel, creating immediate visual structure.
[07]
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
A direct, opinion-based question is posed to the subjects, immediately framing a debate and inviting the audience to form their own answer.
Payoff
The segment concludes with a moment of self-aware humor, where the subject admits they can't provide a concrete example for their own nuanced theory, ending on a charming and relatable note.
[08]
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Expert Opinion Gauntlet
A two-part Q&A structure that first establishes a 'gold standard' for a topic through nostalgic examples, and then pivots to a speculative 'what if' question, which is answered with a philosophical rule and a nuanced exception.
The Idealist's Criteria
The first subject deflects a direct answer, instead establishing a set of principles or a 'feeling' that defines quality in the category. This adds depth beyond a simple list.
The Modern Obstacle
The subject identifies a specific, contemporary element that violates their ideal criteria, creating a relatable point of contention for the audience.
The Nostalgic Affirmation
The second subject enthusiastically validates the first subject's criteria and anchors the 'ideal' in a specific, beloved past era, often referred to as a 'golden age'.
The Archetype Showcase
The second subject provides a concrete, universally recognized example that perfectly embodies the 'golden age' ideal, reinforcing the argument with multiple visual proofs.
The Narrative Pivot
The interviewer introduces a new, forward-looking or speculative question that builds upon the established context but shifts the conversation's focus (e.g., from 'best' to 'next').
The Contrarian Maxim
The first subject responds to the new question with a strong, definitive, and slightly unexpected rule or principle, suggesting that the best things should be left untouched.
The Refined Exception
The subject immediately follows up their own maxim by carving out a nuanced exception, defining the specific conditions under which their rule could be broken.
We’re with @lilireinhart and Tom Bateman on this one. We don’t want to see too many cell phones in rom-coms: let's stick to the romance of letters and landlines. Watch on @theSkimm’s YouTube for the full interview, linked in bio.
branding · throughout
theSkimm
title · beginning
Which rom-com is the gold standard?
title · middle
Which rom-com deserves a sequel?
informational · end
The great ones don't need one
Which rom com for you both is, like, the gold standard? I don't know if I have a gold standard. I just want something to feel like it's not so obviously 2026. The cell phones are hard because they give it away, but the feeling of something, the way that it's shot, the texture of the film. You're so right. With the mobile phones, it instantly makes things best romantic. No. No. It just takes away. Rank. There's something about that sort of late nineties, early two thousands romantic comedy world. It's like the gold rush for rom coms. We just recently rewatched The Proposal. Sandra Bullock in anything. It doesn't get better than those. Which rom com do you think deserves a sequel? The great ones don't need one. I think a spiritual sequel is okay. Like, if it's not trying to copy exactly the original, something with a spin with the same essence can be nice. Do I have an example of that? No. Best it's in my brain.