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Character is story. Story is character.
Character

Character is story. Story is character.

Here are three character questions I ask to help nail down the underlying needs that drive a character’s transformation.
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Tom Vaughan
The Mental Battle of Screenwriting
The Mental Battle

The Mental Battle of Screenwriting

Screenwriting is difficult. But, once we accept this — that it is difficult — and we abandon the idea that if it is difficult, something must be wrong… well, then we just… go on.
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Tom Vaughan
The Midpoint
Structure

The Midpoint

An event at the midpoint of the movie that reverses what was previously believed to be true, changes the stakes, or otherwise creates a new environment or given circumstances for the protagonist
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Tom Vaughan
Tools For Character-Driven Dramatic Questions
Character

Tools For Character-Driven Dramatic Questions

Last week, I wrote about plot-focused dramatic questions and how they can make your job much easier. But not every story wants one...
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Tom Vaughan
The Dramatic Question
Structure

The Dramatic Question

The dramatic question is one of your best tools for your story structure.  So much so, that two of my three primary goals in the "pre-outline" phase of any project.
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Tom Vaughan
The Magic Why
Story

The Magic Why

I want to talk about perhaps our greatest weapon in the creative and emotional battle we call screenwriting. I happen to think it's our greatest weapon in any endeavor...
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Tom Vaughan
Four Questions For Any Character Piece
Character

Four Questions For Any Character Piece

Sometimes you have a character in mind. No situation, no world. You don't even know what the character will do, let alone what they want. It's just the character. What exactly do you do with them?
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Tom Vaughan
The Big Picture - Four Throughlines
Structure

The Big Picture - Four Throughlines

After focusing the last two weeks on Act 1 and Act 2, I want to talk about the big picture. If you've taken any of my classes, you know I emphasize simplifying the process whenever we can.
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Tom Vaughan
How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Act 2
Character

How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Act 2

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Tom Vaughan
Define The Character Early
Character

Define The Character Early

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Tom Vaughan
How To Make Characters Distinguish Themselves
Character

How To Make Characters Distinguish Themselves

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Tom Vaughan
Most Important Aspect Of Supporting Characters
Character

Most Important Aspect Of Supporting Characters

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Tom Vaughan
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