How do writers make characters into people we can empathize with and understand? One way is through the use of characterization. But what is characterization? We’re going to answer that question by looking at examples from Kill Bill and The Social Network, and by listening to the perspective of some of the world’s most foremost… Continue reading What is Characterization — A Guide to Character Building
Who is the best movie villain of all time? There are a number of lists that include The Joker, Darth Vader, Freddy Krueger, and Nurse Ratched, but we wanted to make a list that wasn’t so… disparate. In this list, we’re going to give you a list of the best realistic movie villains. These are the… Continue reading 15 Best Realistic Movie Villains, Ranked for 2023
Can you tell a good story without a round character? What does it mean to be a round character? There is a good chance most of your favorite movies and shows revolve around the unfolding of these characters. Conversely, stories without any well-developed characters tend to feel unrelatable. They don’t give the audience enough incentive… Continue reading What is a Round Character — Definition, Examples for Writers
Over the last few years, Hollywood has tried to reinvent its definition of the “strong female protagonist” – but the result has been mixed. Although there has been a greater representation of empowered women in Hollywood films, there has also been a dissolution of nuanced characters. All of this begs the question: how do you… Continue reading Strong Female Characters in Film — With 5 Tips on Writing Them
When you think of the most iconic films in cinema, odds are there is a well-rounded, memorable, maybe even complex character attached to it. However, you may be surprised that many of these great films also use simple characters that lack complexity. These are flat characters. What is a flat character arc? In this article,… Continue reading What is a Flat Character — Types of Character Arcs Explained
BasicsOpen menu Insert Image Antagonist Insert Image Hero Insert Image Anti Hero Insert Image Tragic Hero Insert Image Superhero Insert Image Anti-Villain Insert Image Villain Character TropesOpen menu Insert Image Common Character Types Insert Image Character Archetypes Insert Image Types of Villains Insert Image Femme Fatale Insert Image Mad Scientist Insert Image Mary Sue W hat… Continue reading What is a Mary Sue — Character Types Explained
BasicsOpen menu Insert Image Antagonist Insert Image Hero Insert Image Anti Hero Insert Image Tragic Hero Insert Image Superhero Insert Image Anti-Villain Insert Image Villain Character TropesOpen menu Insert Image Common Character Types Insert Image Character Archetypes Insert Image Types of Villains Insert Image Femme Fatale Insert Image Mad Scientist Insert Image Mary Sue Continue… Continue reading 8 Character Archetypes — Examples in Literature & Movies
Mad Men is one of television’s best period pieces. It not only uses the 1960s as a backdrop and setting for the show, it imbues its dialogue, story, and characters with the details of the times. Every character reflects the 1960s in one way or another. In this article, we’ll analyze how Betty Draper’s tragic… Continue reading Betty Draper: How They Wrote Mad Men’s Most Tragic Character
F or a writer, it’s exciting to hatch a new idea. Maybe you even have a rockstar logline. But it’s all too easy to take that idea and run, only to stumble at page 30 without a clue of where to go. Don’t worry – this is avoidable. You just need a firm grasp on how… Continue reading The Ultimate Film Beat Sheet [FREE Save the Cat Beat Sheet Template]
There’s an old film school thought experiment that asks about a character, “What does he have in his refrigerator?” In this post, we’re going to practice that experiment.We can learn plenty about who a character is from the things they say, as well as the things others say about them. But we also learn who… Continue reading Who is This Person? Finding a Character Using the Script Breakdown
⌂ Types OF IronyVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony What is sarcasm? As it turns out, it isn’t exactly what most people think it is. In some cases, what we think is sarcasm is really just your garden variety of verbal irony. For writers, it is crucial to have a precise and firm grasp on language, so… Continue reading What is Sarcasm? Definition and Examples in Film & TV
I f there’s one thing writers will agree on, it’s that character development is super critical to writing a winning script.Continue reading Character Development: Write Stronger Characters [with FREE Worksheet]
T he best movies have stories that entertain us, connect with us, and keep us glued to the screen. That kind of compelling drama happens on multiple levels, through internal and external conflict. How you implement these tools will determine how effective your story is.Continue reading How Internal Conflict and External Conflict Can Energize Your Story
We all know that conflict is needed to keep viewers engaged, to create an emotional response, and to ultimately, push the story forward. Without conflict in a story, the film, show, or novel, may seem a bit, well, boring. It’s also true that conflict can be defined by all of the “types” that exist —… Continue reading What is Conflict in a Story? A Quick Reminder of the Purpose of Conflict
A comprehensive article that breaks down why Seinfeld scripts were so good at identifying problems, balancing multiple stories, and keeping the viewer smiling.
EPISODE 2TV WRITING & DEVELOPMENT MASTERCLASSCharacter Development:FREE Character Profile Sheet TemplateA great television show needs great characters. Unlike film, television teases out character development over several seasons. We take you through the basics, and provide a FREE character profile sheet. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE ← BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE WATCH NEXT EPISODE → TV character development:… Continue reading TV Character Development [Character Profile Sheet Template] — TV Writing & Development: Ep2
Writing a great character arc is a challenge. Great characters and their arcs are what drive a plot, make a story relatable, and memorable. In this post, we’re going to teach you how to write a great character arc using a tool we created called the Story Speedometer. It’s the fastest way to make sure your… Continue reading How To Write The Best Character Arc with Examples [FREE Story Speedometer]
