How Important Is A Character’s Goal?
As it turns out, very much so. It’s the first question screenwriters should consider when they build a character. A goal defines what the character is trying to achieve in their story. It could be to win a race, get that promotion, win back an ex-spouse, build a house, or lose weight. It is the […]
A Strong Character Begins With A Strong Goal
Every good story is based on strong characters which are complex, layered, motivated, and active in pursuit of an identifiable goal. They need to have enough depth and interest to sustain an audience for up to several hours. An essential way to focus a character through a story is by defining their goal – the […]
5 Ways To Sharpen Your Descriptions
Descriptions in your screenplay are a lot like vitamins; not enough and your screenplay becomes anemic and difficult to visualize and follow. Too much, and it becomes obese and lethargic. What is description anyway? It’s more than the text between the dialogue and scene descriptions. It sets the scene, tone, mood, and speed velocity of […]
5 Reasons Romantic Comedy Characters Initially Dislike Each Other
Everybody loves a good romantic comedy whether after a breakup or meeting someone new. Despite the tropes of this genre being fairly static, romcoms like Kissing Booth, Pretty Woman, and You’ve Got Mail still remain wildly popular despite their elevated conceits. But then again, escapism and entertainment is a key reason audiences flock to these movies. The recurring […]
How Ethics & Morality Shape Characters (Part 1)
The words ethics and morality are many times used interchangeably. I’m going to resist doing that old article trope of pasting the definitions here, but basically, an ethic is a global, world view provided by an outside source, i.e. a religion, workplace rules, or a society at large, whereas morals are personal, internal guiding principles […]
