|  | - ARTICLE: Inherently Dramatic Characters
- LAST CHANCE : Pushing the Envelope Writing Starts Wednesday!
- TELECONFERENCE: "How To Get an Agent ", February 18, 2012
| | | |  How dramatic are your lead characters?
Four years ago, I gave a lady feedback on her first 3 pages with the agreement that I could use it as an example. It was a great decision because it uncovered an extremely important principle...
...Your lead characters need to be DESIGNED to create drama!
Before she sent me the script, the writer launched into how much she loved her main character and how I couldn't possibly get the true value of the character out of three pages. She wanted me to experience ALL of the drama that happened to her lead character, which is a reasonable request, but something about it bothered me.
I asked her to email me her lead character's profile, also. Here is what she emailed me:
--------------BEGIN PROFILE---------------------- DESCRIPTION: JERRY is a strong farmer turned coach who would never harm a flea.
TRAITS: Kind, generous, caring, strong.
SUBTEXT: Jerry has always wanted to travel, but never complains about it. --------------END PROFILE------------------------ The story is about a small town football team who ended up playing in a nation-wide football contest. It is a Hoosiers for football -- except that it didn't have the coach who was kicked out of the college league for hitting a player or the alcoholic father who embarrasses his kid or the sister who won't let the star player play for the team or the town who hates the coach.
In fact, it didn't have ANY CONFLICT AT ALL.
Now, look back at the profile of Jerry. DO YOU SEE ANY DRAMA springing from that character?
Neither do I.
For drama to happen around this character, it would have to happen TO THIS CHARACTER. In reality, Jerry is a parasite for this story instead of a character who generates an amazing story. He is a passive character that should be a low level supporting character...at best.
IMPORTANT: You want LEAD CHARACTERS that bring drama to the story. Even if they are reluctant at first, there's something about these characters that INSTIGATES or naturally causes some kind of conflict. KEY POINT: If you create dull characters, they'll say dull things and take dull actions. But if you create characters that naturally cause drama, interesting action and dialogue will spring up throughout your screenplay. | | | | | | | |  |  | | Last Chance for Pushing the Envelope Class! | What do MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3, the TV show LOST, and the show ALIAS have in common?  They were all directed -- and written by -- J.J. Abrams.
Yes, there were other writers involved, but the style of writing and the relentless requirement for the most interesting situations, intriguing characters, and engaging dialogue came from J.J.
Abrams -- and that is what this class is all about... ...making your writing extra-ordinary! The Pushing The Envelope class gives you the exact skills you need to turn your script into a "Page Turner." You'll never write a dull page again! PRICE: $90
DATES: Feb 22 - March 3, 2012
WHERE: Online.
MORE INFO
To register, go to http://www.screenwritingu.com/enroll2.htm. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | Teleconference: "How To Get An Agent " - February 18th at 6pm PST | If you want an agent or manager,
you need to know the
rules of that business relationship. You need to know the rules, the reality, and the roadmap that will get you in the door and to the point of being a represented writer. "This call changed my whole vision, plan, and focus."
Audrey Jacobs In this 90 minute teleconference, you'll learn... REALITY: - Strategies that came from over 100 interviews with agents and managers.
- The fundamentals of landing an Agent or Manager.
- The four mistakes everyone advises writers to make with agents!
RULES: - The Rules of Engagement with Agents
- How to be a Great Client
ROADMAP: - 8 Strategies for Landing a Manager or Agent.
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