Dr. Holly Sawyer: Bridging Laughs & Healing

Dr. Holly Sawyer, a licensed therapist by day and a comedian by night, is making waves in the world of screenwriting with her unique blend of mental health expertise and dark comedy. As a finalist for the Best Dark Comedy Screenplay at the Houston Comedy Film Festival, Dr. Sawyer’s works “Reality Is On To Something” and “Widow’s Wishes” are garnering attention for their bold approach to sensitive topics.

A Therapist’s Perspective on Screenwriting

Dr. Sawyer’s background as a clinical therapist provides a rich foundation for her screenplays. She emphasizes the importance of creating relatable characters that reflect real-life experiences while addressing serious issues through the lens of dark comedy. “I want to find things that are so serious that not that you can’t be sad or upset, or to you know, have an emotion behind it, but I still think that we need to laugh,” Dr. Sawyer explains.

Her approach to character development is both methodical and intuitive. Dr. Sawyer creates detailed character maps, allowing her creations to evolve organically over time. She draws inspiration from her extensive travels and diverse life experiences, ensuring that no single character is based entirely on one individual.

Breaking the Stigma Through Comedy

Both of Dr. Sawyer’s finalist screenplays tackle heavy themes with a comedic touch:

Reality Is On To Something

This half-hour series follows Dr. Holly, a widowed Black therapist who reinvents herself as a stand-up comedian after her own therapist dies by suicide. The show explores themes of grief, professional burnout, and the challenges faced by Black and Latino therapists in the healthcare system.

Widow’s Wishes

This dark dramedy centers around three women in abusive marriages who accidentally kill their husbands and turn to their therapist for help covering up the crimes. The series delves into the complexities of abusive relationships, narcissism, and the unexpected consequences of desperate actions.

Dr. Sawyer’s goal is to bring awareness to mental health issues and societal problems while providing entertainment. “I really want to be in a space where I’m bringing something new and different that people didn’t even like imagine,” she states.

A Call for Authentic Storytelling

Dr. Sawyer expresses frustration with Hollywood’s tendency to remake old classics rather than investing in new, diverse voices. She advocates for fresh perspectives and stories that resonate with contemporary audiences. Her work aims to normalize discussions around mental health, addiction, and other challenging topics by presenting them in a relatable, often humorous context.

Looking to the Future

As Dr. Sawyer continues to develop her screenplays, she’s open to collaboration with individuals who share her passion for meaningful storytelling. She emphasizes the importance of working with people who are “looking to contribute to the art versus getting something from it.”

Dr. Sawyer’s unique position as both a therapist and a comedian allows her to bridge the gap between mental health awareness and entertainment. Her screenplays promise to offer audiences a fresh perspective on difficult topics, wrapped in the accessible package of dark comedy.

As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, voices like Dr. Holly Sawyer’s are crucial in pushing boundaries and fostering important conversations through the power of storytelling and laughter.