Does your character need a superpower?
There are certain common questions or notes we hear in development. You can add, "What's their superpower?" to the list.
Character
It's the relationships that matter in your screenwriting.
“What audiences really care about,” he said, “Was seeing the character share that achievement with a loved one.”
What motivates the characters in your screenplay?
Anxiety means well. Anxiety’s job is to protect us, after all. It’s just usually an incredibly unskilled and unproductive way to do it.
The 3 points of character descriptions.
The good news is that you do not have to be brilliant. Just know the assignment.
Does your protagonist really need an emotional wound?
Past wounds or traumas can help motivate and explain choices but do not replace them as the defining trait of character.
Your protagonist doesn't need to be likable.
There is a common misconception that a protagonist needs to be likable. The truth is, we just need to care.
Finding The Core Belief: The Impact of the Flat-Arc Protagonist
Stories where the protagonist remains steadfast in their beliefs and, in doing so, changes everyone around them.
This is called in some circles... "The flat-arc protagonist."
The Protagonist's Most Important Trait: Resilience.
By the end of your story, your protagonist should demonstrate resilience.
I know, I know.
How interesting could it be if every protagonist had this exact same trait?
It turns out, it's very interesting.
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.
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...
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?
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.