I recently got into an argument with a younger person over a movie. Their main critique of the film was that the main character wasn't a good person, so I thought that made it a bad movie. Now, I decided to keep calm in that situation and let my venting out here. It does not matter if the protagonist of your story is a good person! All that matters is that the lead person is interesting. And that we are interested in where they're going over the course of the story. I can't believe I have to say this out loud, but it's okay to have a morally ambiguous or even evil main character. Morally ambiguous characters, those who blur the lines between good and bad, have taken center stage in both films and TV, and that's a good thing.Let's dive in. The Moral Gray AreaRecently, I have been challenging myself to step into a world with a lot more gray areas in my screenwriting. I want to see what I can get the audience to buy into and also sharpen my skills to make a character interesting, not just "good". Also, morally ambiguous characters are simply more realistic. People are complex creatures, driven by a multitude of motivations, not just unwavering virtue. A character who wrestles with their own moral compass, who makes tough choices for understandable reasons, allows us to see ourselves reflected on screen. Take Walter White from Breaking Bad. Initially, he's a sympathetic teacher, he descends...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 9 April, 2024