Alan Sorkin
Producer Screenwriter Remember these words "Intention and dialogue" Watch the first 20 minutes to learn how Aaron Sorkin writes his characters in films. I found this so interesting I watched more than just a few minutes. |
Source: The Aspen Institute
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"Writing Characters"
Perspective from an epic screenwriter Check him out https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815070/ Guaranteed you know his films Social Network Few Good Men West Wing And many more |
Aaron Sorkin is a Hollywood Producer and Screen writer. He describes his method of screenwriting as it relates to character development and script writing.
Sorkin discusses his thoughts of starting with character before story, his writing style (fast dialogue) and inspiration for ideas.
Sorkin discusses his thoughts of starting with character before story, his writing style (fast dialogue) and inspiration for ideas.
Character vs. Story
Developing and Writing a Narrative Film
Where to start writing a narrative film. Should one start with the story and all the details and then fill in the characters? Or should a character already be top of mind driven by the need of that character and his or her character traits? Does it matter. Is there a rule or preference? Where do writers get their film ideas? What inspires them?
We will take a look from the perspective of Hollywood screenwriters and directors.
Character Development in Film
As a class we will discuss:
What is most important in a film - the story or its characters?
What is more memorable - story or character? Why do you have that opinion?
Hint: There is no "right" answer - it's a matter of opinion even among filmmakers
Developing and Writing a Narrative Film
Where to start writing a narrative film. Should one start with the story and all the details and then fill in the characters? Or should a character already be top of mind driven by the need of that character and his or her character traits? Does it matter. Is there a rule or preference? Where do writers get their film ideas? What inspires them?
We will take a look from the perspective of Hollywood screenwriters and directors.
Character Development in Film
As a class we will discuss:
What is most important in a film - the story or its characters?
What is more memorable - story or character? Why do you have that opinion?
Hint: There is no "right" answer - it's a matter of opinion even among filmmakers
Characters identified by students as their favourites
Examples from previous years
Examples from previous years
When we talk about a film to others do we generally talk about the story or the characters first and then what they do in the film?
Character development is central to filmmaking. Characters are central to the story.
People must connect to your characters for any film to successful. The audience has to "care" about your character and his/her goal.
So, how do we make people "care?"
John Truby is a writer and discusses this very point in screenwriting.
Character development is central to filmmaking. Characters are central to the story.
People must connect to your characters for any film to successful. The audience has to "care" about your character and his/her goal.
So, how do we make people "care?"
John Truby is a writer and discusses this very point in screenwriting.
Connecting to characters and story
Mathew Luhn is an early original at Pixar.
In this video he takes a fascinating look at his career arc and how characters and story. He is speaking in the context of a business meeting (hence references to Steve Jobs) but in reality his ideas and talk relates so well to storytelling in film.
Mathew Luhn is an early original at Pixar.
In this video he takes a fascinating look at his career arc and how characters and story. He is speaking in the context of a business meeting (hence references to Steve Jobs) but in reality his ideas and talk relates so well to storytelling in film.
Write Characters that are:
Memorable
Impactful
Personal
Will result in character the audience cares about
Memorable
Impactful
Personal
Will result in character the audience cares about
Character arc in the film
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Characters In Film:
Protagonist -
The "hero" of a film. Must have one goal they are driven to achieve. At the Climax of the film the Protagonist and Antagonist will confront each other to see who will prevail. The protagonist does not always win the battle (unsuccessful achieving their ultimate goal.) They also have some kind of internal character flaw (fear, greed, jealously...) that will conflict with their ability to achieve their goal. Important to note that the Protagonist is not always a "good" person but the audience must connect with the protagonist and care about their survival and success in their quest for their goal.
The protagonist's goal is what drives the overall story; moves it forward. We follow a film along with the protagonist as we join him/her along their journey to reach their goal. However, the story can be told in first person - through the eyes of the protagonist or in third person where a "person" guides the audience from outside of the story itself (narrator).
Types of Protagonists:
The Hero: The "Good Guy"
Portrays good morals and makes "right" decisions in their quest of their goal. The audience usually like this character and what they stand for - an honourable person.
The Anti-hero
An anti-hero is not a traditional "Good guy" character. They can have serious character flaws that make them not a good person. But the writer may choose to tell the story with anti-hero as the protagonist. The story and conflict centers around a person we may not like but is the central figure of the story. For example, Walter White (Breaking Bad - drug dealer), Mark Zuckerberg (Social Network - aggressive and doesn't play fair.)
False Protagonist
Sometimes the a story begins centered around a character who appears to to be the Protagonist but in reality they are a decoy for the real protagonist. This tends to fool the audience but create interest in the story by adding a twist in the plot. "I didn't see that coming!" At some point in the film the writer may "kill off" the false protagonist. In other situations the false protagonist may become the Antagonist (the enemy of the real protagonist) or simply disappear from the story (probably less satisfying to the audience.)
Advice From MasterClass - where industry specialists share their expert experiences and knowledge.
2 Tips for Writing a Strong Protagonist
When screenwriting, playwriting, or novel-writing, there are a number of things you should keep in mind if you’re striving to write a strong protagonist:
Direct Source - Masterclass: Writing 101
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-protagonist-vs-antagonist-characters#what-is-a-protagonist
Antagonist
Villain
The "bad guy or villain" in a film. The Antagonist stands in the way of the protagonist from achieving their goal. Creates the main conflict in the story with the protagonist. The film centers around this characters battle to thwart the protagonist.
The Co-Creator
The Antagonist isn't always a "bad guy." sometimes their own goals in the film conflict with the goal of the protagonist. It is that struggle between what each wants that makes the person the antagonist instead of simply being mean or evil. They have competing interests.
Inanimate Forces
Sometimes the Antagonist isn't a person but a thing. For example, maybe the protagonist is stranded on a desert island and can't escape (Tom Hanks in Cast Away - yes two words with double meaning), The Shark in Jaws (one could argue it is a character but not inanimate but it makes the point of not always being human)
Protagonist Internal Struggles
The protagonist can also stand in the way of their own ability to reach their goal. Through a personality weaknesses that stops them from pushing on until they overcome the internal torment and struggle.
Protagonist -
The "hero" of a film. Must have one goal they are driven to achieve. At the Climax of the film the Protagonist and Antagonist will confront each other to see who will prevail. The protagonist does not always win the battle (unsuccessful achieving their ultimate goal.) They also have some kind of internal character flaw (fear, greed, jealously...) that will conflict with their ability to achieve their goal. Important to note that the Protagonist is not always a "good" person but the audience must connect with the protagonist and care about their survival and success in their quest for their goal.
The protagonist's goal is what drives the overall story; moves it forward. We follow a film along with the protagonist as we join him/her along their journey to reach their goal. However, the story can be told in first person - through the eyes of the protagonist or in third person where a "person" guides the audience from outside of the story itself (narrator).
Types of Protagonists:
The Hero: The "Good Guy"
Portrays good morals and makes "right" decisions in their quest of their goal. The audience usually like this character and what they stand for - an honourable person.
The Anti-hero
An anti-hero is not a traditional "Good guy" character. They can have serious character flaws that make them not a good person. But the writer may choose to tell the story with anti-hero as the protagonist. The story and conflict centers around a person we may not like but is the central figure of the story. For example, Walter White (Breaking Bad - drug dealer), Mark Zuckerberg (Social Network - aggressive and doesn't play fair.)
False Protagonist
Sometimes the a story begins centered around a character who appears to to be the Protagonist but in reality they are a decoy for the real protagonist. This tends to fool the audience but create interest in the story by adding a twist in the plot. "I didn't see that coming!" At some point in the film the writer may "kill off" the false protagonist. In other situations the false protagonist may become the Antagonist (the enemy of the real protagonist) or simply disappear from the story (probably less satisfying to the audience.)
Advice From MasterClass - where industry specialists share their expert experiences and knowledge.
2 Tips for Writing a Strong Protagonist
When screenwriting, playwriting, or novel-writing, there are a number of things you should keep in mind if you’re striving to write a strong protagonist:
- Avoid absolutes. When protagonists are either extremely moral characters, or extremely immoral characters, it might be hard for readers to relate to them. Allow your protagonists a mix of traits in order to make them feel more human. After all, there is a bit of both in all of us.
- Don’t make your protagonist too powerful or too weak. An all-powerful protagonist can often leave readers feeling that the stakes of the story’s central conflict aren’t high enough—in other words, the protagonist is not risking anything and has nothing to lose. If the story has no stakes, it is not all that interesting to read. On the other hand, a protagonist that is too weak or helpless might leave readers feeling frustrated.
Direct Source - Masterclass: Writing 101
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-protagonist-vs-antagonist-characters#what-is-a-protagonist
Antagonist
Villain
The "bad guy or villain" in a film. The Antagonist stands in the way of the protagonist from achieving their goal. Creates the main conflict in the story with the protagonist. The film centers around this characters battle to thwart the protagonist.
The Co-Creator
The Antagonist isn't always a "bad guy." sometimes their own goals in the film conflict with the goal of the protagonist. It is that struggle between what each wants that makes the person the antagonist instead of simply being mean or evil. They have competing interests.
Inanimate Forces
Sometimes the Antagonist isn't a person but a thing. For example, maybe the protagonist is stranded on a desert island and can't escape (Tom Hanks in Cast Away - yes two words with double meaning), The Shark in Jaws (one could argue it is a character but not inanimate but it makes the point of not always being human)
Protagonist Internal Struggles
The protagonist can also stand in the way of their own ability to reach their goal. Through a personality weaknesses that stops them from pushing on until they overcome the internal torment and struggle.
Source: Samantha Clair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOODHYmpJ6k |
Categorize Character Types:
Watch the video below and make note of types of characters that can appear in film. Flat - A have limited range or character traits. Character doesn't change throughout the film. The film "comes to them." Round - Have depth and are complex - they have "layers" to their being. Different range of emotions and reactions. Realistic as to how humans behave. Dynamic - Character changes during course of the film. They learn lessons along the way that have them transform or evolve in their thinking and interactions with others. Static - They are under-developed and don't change throughout movie. They are in the film simply to help move the story along. |
Pixar Character Development Process
This series of videos by "Pixar in a Box" explains how characters are developed in their animated films. These are epic films which have had huge success. Why? Because people love and remember the characters. What is the approach does Pixar Story writers and animators focus on to develop?
This series of videos is insightful into that process. It is part of a course offered by Khan Academy. The series of modules can be watched free one time. Watch the progression of Pixar's Character development process and make jot notes in your Google Doc. that you feel will help you develop a compelling character for your own film. Remember, the audience has to care about your characters - not just like them.
Click on this link to view this series of videos by:
https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar/storytelling/character/v/character-1
This series of videos by "Pixar in a Box" explains how characters are developed in their animated films. These are epic films which have had huge success. Why? Because people love and remember the characters. What is the approach does Pixar Story writers and animators focus on to develop?
This series of videos is insightful into that process. It is part of a course offered by Khan Academy. The series of modules can be watched free one time. Watch the progression of Pixar's Character development process and make jot notes in your Google Doc. that you feel will help you develop a compelling character for your own film. Remember, the audience has to care about your characters - not just like them.
Click on this link to view this series of videos by:
https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/pixar/storytelling/character/v/character-1
Important:
Khan Academy
If you have watched a video lessons you will NOT be able to replay (or watch again) without changing account settings.
Here is what needs to be done to replay videos> Sceenshots are in order.
1. Go to Account top Right of Screen in Khan Academy
2. Select settings
3. Turn Off Autoplay
4. Play video again - it will prompt to turn on Autoplay - Do not click on that play button
5. Go to the "Replay video" Button bottom left of Player window to replay a video - beside the volume level
Khan Academy
If you have watched a video lessons you will NOT be able to replay (or watch again) without changing account settings.
Here is what needs to be done to replay videos> Sceenshots are in order.
1. Go to Account top Right of Screen in Khan Academy
2. Select settings
3. Turn Off Autoplay
4. Play video again - it will prompt to turn on Autoplay - Do not click on that play button
5. Go to the "Replay video" Button bottom left of Player window to replay a video - beside the volume level
Aaron Sorkin film writing style
Aaron Sorkin is known for his rich character development and character dialogue. The video below is an excellent illustration of Hollywood films and Television series Sorkin has written.
Watch the following segments:
00:00 - 2:30
3:50 - 4:12
7:25 - 12:30 Plot vs. Character
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eucVNYQNGAs&t=438s
Discover more about Aaron Sorkin
www.imdb.com/video/vi679854105?playlistId=nm0815070&ref_=nm_pr_ov_vi
Activity
Famous Movie Lines
Based on Aaron Sorkin video - famous for his rapid fire dialogue scenes.
Do not google this - do it from the top of your head - even if it isn't exact!
Add the following to your character Google Doc - Third column
What is one epic line of dialogue that you remember/loved in a film? Can I pick 2 lines from movies? Yes
What was the context of that line being delivered?
When did it happen in the film (Act) - to the best of your memory
What was the outcome of the line - what did that line initiate (if anything) in the film?
Aaron Sorkin is known for his rich character development and character dialogue. The video below is an excellent illustration of Hollywood films and Television series Sorkin has written.
Watch the following segments:
00:00 - 2:30
3:50 - 4:12
7:25 - 12:30 Plot vs. Character
Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eucVNYQNGAs&t=438s
Discover more about Aaron Sorkin
www.imdb.com/video/vi679854105?playlistId=nm0815070&ref_=nm_pr_ov_vi
Activity
Famous Movie Lines
Based on Aaron Sorkin video - famous for his rapid fire dialogue scenes.
Do not google this - do it from the top of your head - even if it isn't exact!
Add the following to your character Google Doc - Third column
What is one epic line of dialogue that you remember/loved in a film? Can I pick 2 lines from movies? Yes
What was the context of that line being delivered?
When did it happen in the film (Act) - to the best of your memory
What was the outcome of the line - what did that line initiate (if anything) in the film?
Class List of Famous/Memorable Film Lines of Dialogue
These are the 3 main character arcs as defined by Studio Binder. Studio Binder is an excellent resource for new filmmakers - not only loaded with information but has lots of great examples from films through the decades.
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-character-arc-definition/ 3 Main Types of Character Arcs:
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"Character Arc"
How the character begins his/her journey in the film to reach their goal. How does the character change during the course of a film - or not? Does the character start as "the good guy", expose their weaknesses and then rise at the end? The more ups and downs the more likely the film is to be engaging for an audience. Remember, struggles and conflict can be internal to a character's inner being or external forces brought on by the Antagonist and other complications brought on by others. A straight line from goal to success will be boring. The audience wants to see struggle and conflict. It is about overcoming (or not) that conflict and the confrontation between protagonist and Antagonist that will make you story interesting. The audience wants your Protagonist to succeed and wants to join the journey to cheer him/her on! |