If you're an aspiring screenwriter, then storytelling and character are probably pretty high up on your list in terms of stuff you should know about. Now, I'm not a massive believer in needing film school, but I do think you probably need a mentor. And that can be hard to find, but lucky for you, there are lots of digital mentors out there who give advice online. One such person is Stanford professor Richard Powers. He's the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory, one of the most praised novels of the decade. But perhaps Richard’s most impressive skill is his character development. In the video below, Richard shares 40+ years and 14 novels' worth of insight on how to write characters that readers can’t get out of their heads.If that sounds good, then keep reading. Let's dive in. When I'm watching these "masterclasses," I like to just break down all the stuff inside them. At the top, Powers dives into the tenets of story, Every story needs an engine, and that engine is conflict. Powers breaks it down into three basic types you can build your entire script around:People vs. People: The classic hero vs. villain, rival vs. rival. Think The Social Network.People vs. Themselves: Your hero is their own worst enemy. Their internal flaws are the main obstacle. Think Good Will Hunting.People vs. Environment: This is your hero against a force of nature, a broken system, or even the planet itself. It used to be old-school, but now it’s...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday