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Week 2 Day 1: Character Intros That Sell Actors — LOST intro of Jack.
1. Please watch this character intro scene and provide your insights into what makes them great from a writing perspective.
2. Read the other writers insights and make notes of how you will improve your character intros.
3. Rethink your Character Intro scene using your new insights and rewrite the scene.
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3 Replies
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The scene opens with complete chaos, which requires the viewer to invest his curiosity and look for details as clues. Because Jack is running, we see a lot of the people and the extent of the wreckage. The scene is set without dialogue and some of the details are foreshadowing action — like the fellow sucked into the engine causing the explosion.
For some reason, Jack pays attention to only two of the injured, though he sees many. He calls others into action and gives the commands. He seems to know how to medically assist. So many other characters appear dazed or traumatized; Jack seems to be fairly balanced despite his overwhelm.
We catch Jack’s name when he calls a reluctant character to assist the pregnant woman. The man wants to be sure he gets Jack’s attention when the birth becomes imminent.
The stakes are life and death; the action is fast; the dialogue is limited to what may save a life.
My opening scene involves life and death. The lead character, a child, is the only survivor as the scene ends. I need to be clear about why the violence is happening, how it relates to the child, and show her trauma — all of that through the perspective of an innocent child who does not have a background to understand the reason for the attack on her family.
Dialogue will play a major role. Foreshadowing is crucial. The child’s trauma at the opening is key to the character arc and the resolution at the end of the movie. I need to concentrate on intrigue through the details.
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William Whelan –Character Intros that sell actors.
What I learned from this assignment was to increase the action and strengthen the introduction of my main character.
<ul type=”disc”>
- Scene arc: Jack alone hears
dries for help, Jack goes to crash site to help other survivors, Jack
rescues man trapped man, Jack then helps hot pregnant women, Jack
instructs fat guy to help pregnant women and goes looking for other people
to help.’- Situation, Plane crash
- Conflict: Survival versus
death.- Moving the story forward: Quest for
survival.- Entertainment value: Constant action and
tension.- Setups/payoffs: Plane crash; survivors attempt
to survive.<ul type=”disc”>
- What makes this scene great? Constant
action, tension, obstacles to overcome and challenges.- How is this lead character
introduced, and who they are introduced to us as? Jack is introduced alone
on a tropical island and is introduced as a businessperson wearing a suit.- What makes him special or
unique? He is introduced wearing a suit on a tropical island.- Interesting dialogue. “How many
months pregnant are you?” “Keep away from the engine”.- How are their actions different
than everyone else? He appears to be the least injured and most able to
take charge of the rescue efforts. - Scene arc: Jack alone hears
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What makes this scene great from a writing perspective:
Jack is introduced powerfully by being put in a very difficult and confusing situation.
We realize, along with him, that he’s on the beach in the middle of a plane crash.
He immediately runs toward the danger and is witness to the chaos around him. Everyone else seems to be either in shock or in hysterics.
He responds to a call for help. He commands others to assist him free the man. He knows enough to apply a tourniquet to the man’s leg. He assists a woman in labor and, again, asks another man, who seems to be in shock, to help the woman and call him if her contractions increase. He must be a doctor of some sort.
He stands out as a leader who is willing to help.
At the end of the scene, we learn his name: Jack.
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