Lesson 26

[mark.napier2022@gmail.com napier]

SUBJECT: Mark Napier’s Solved Character Problems

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First….I apologize for the delay in response. I had a friend involved in a serious car accident and I have been dealing with him, his recovery and legal and medical followup for the last 8 days so it tossed a wrench into the works here for me. I just had too many distractions going on to focus on this class. At least I got the bulk out of the way.

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What I learned: I am basically assessing my script for gaps based on the guidelines. Once I address the issues noted below, I will revisit and review.

To address weak character introduction in Opening Scene, I inserted this dialog into the opening scene to get the protagonist more visibility as a lead character in a conversation that was really one sided initially:

MARK: “Tom grab your squirt gun ….and since he’s my team member … I’ll take the lead on site…So don’t shoot me in the ass ok? ….HOOahh??” (Tom then shoots a glance at Banks)

To address the Characters not in action, I have already looked into inserted more subplots with the Antagonist throughout ACTs 2 and 3 as likely conversations that would take place as my script does not address the Antagonist as much given the time span that is covered. I also seek to include a few subtexts too in ACTs 3 and 4 to address the Antagonist’s intentions toward the Protagonist.

To address the Lead Characters not present, I address this with Characters not in action. Currently, as the Protagonist is serving nearly 3 ½ years in Afghanistan, his interaction with the Antagonist is minimal, but I want to add more subplots that likely would be occurring and subtext as noted.

[Caitlin Stryker]

ASSIGNMENT #26
What I learned doing this assignment was that it was fun to just think raise the stakes and it also lead to my characters being in more action!
I’m calling this the Harriet pass. My first draft has focused so largely on Carla, my protagonist, that my antagonist, Harriet, is too weak to be who the movie is named after. And I really want Harriet to be a BIG vibrant character. So I’m going to build out her character profile and go through the whole script elevating her behavior.
1. Check your lead characters to see if they have any of the problems listed in this lesson.
A. Weak protagonist or antagonist.
Antagonist: This character is there to force the protagonist to change. Make them a big expression of the protagonist’s fear, wound, or main issue in life. Make them intriguing, but more important, they should constantly force the protagonist into difficult situations.

B. Protagonist Too Good or Antagonist Too Bad.
C. Weak character intros.
D. Characters not in action.
E. Protagonist journey not strong.
F. All the characters seem the same.
G. Lead characters not present.
2. For any character problems you find, make the prescribed improvements.
3. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.