How to write EXCITING characters.

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How to write EXCITING characters.

Рет қаралды 45,193

Күн бұрын

If you can't write a strong character, you can't write a strong film. Here are 3 fundamental building blocks for creating memorable, compelling characters in your films. Don't go screenwriting without them!
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00:00 Introduction
00:38 Active Characters
03:29 Rule-Breakers
05:33 Strong Beliefs
09:32 Other Writing Considerations

Пікірлер: 67

@elsewhere_ash 2 жыл бұрын

Quit my teaching job of four years this last May to start editing/creating full-time. Started watching your videos recently and you’ve given me a focus for the future. Kudos for the content!

@benjaminfigueroa1833 2 жыл бұрын

Same. I'm quitting this September

@NetFelixOfficiel Жыл бұрын

Dude, i just want to stop the video here to say that you are my favorite storyteller on youtube. I absolutely love how you condense everything into a super easy way for everyone to learn and choose subjects that everyone needs to learn about. love the content and i hope that they will be more screenwriting videos in the future, you deserve a million subs

@StandardStoryCo Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@blueotter5954 Жыл бұрын

I am understanding more about why some scenes make me angry. The potential of characters was flattened at a fast pace.

@CZ008 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks as a beginner filmmaker and writer this helps I’ve had trouble with characters and so I have often kept my characters silent

@achillesreyskens2774 3 күн бұрын

Peace sells... But who's buying?

@KelseyRodriguez 2 жыл бұрын

Another banger video, thanks! I know you talk about film but so much of this is applicable to everything else too-- creative writing, KZfaq, etc! Appreciate this channel so much

@FrictionMakesFire 2 жыл бұрын

About to start production on our short film this weekend, and happy to report that our main character is very active in making tough choices throughout the film. Great video!

@empyreal-t.v. 2 жыл бұрын

Can't express enough how helpful and motivating your content is! Wish you much success!

@StandardStoryCo 2 жыл бұрын

Happy to hear that, back at you 🙏

@dylanreid8770 2 жыл бұрын

I've been watching your videos for a few weeks now and each and everytime I watch something I come out with something new. I really think you've enhanced my ability to make a good story and I thankyou so much for that!

@AugustSchunk Жыл бұрын

I liked your breakdown of this subject. For some reason I wanted a similar analysis of the characters and character arcs in Office Space. I feel this film was great because each character was so well developed.

@StandardStoryCo Жыл бұрын

Such a great movie

@OfficialIrysh 2 жыл бұрын

interesting... the video is ten minutes long, and yet there are comments from 2 mins after posting saying it was a great video (which im sure it is.) but my spidey sense is tingling

@StandardStoryCo 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you've never tasted the glory of being first comment. Sometimes that sweet endorphin rush trumps all reason.

@boethjelle8769 2 жыл бұрын

Nice pfp

@ChrisMinorOfficial 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe his friends and fam commented, lol I’d save those spidey senses for someone more like…Klaus Schwab-ish. I’ve seen a few videos from this channel and from what I’ve watched, the guy posts informative and interesting videos that have to deal with processes behind filmmaking. I think we can put the spidey suit away, at least until he starts saying “you’ll own nothing and be happy,” haha

@JohnHarrerHorses 2 жыл бұрын

@@StandardStoryCo Dang, I wish i’d said that first! ;)

@mfwspew 2 жыл бұрын

nah there's bots all over youtube that are trying to get in first to tell you how great your video is so you get all happy about the compliment check out *their* channel. I trust this dude.

@gedreeves9692 2 жыл бұрын

Dude you're subscriber count is going through the roof! Keep up the awesome content man, enjoying this channel more than any other right now!

@thekusariproject 2 жыл бұрын

Good video bro! Thanks for putting all this in one video, very easy to find. Definitely will use some of this while creating characters in the future! Thanks a lot and keep up the good work

@cosmic-fortytwo Ай бұрын

6:23 "This aggression will not stand!" The cool thing about Jeff Lebowski was that at one time he was a famous activist and was part of the Seattle Seven. So hidden underneath his go-with-the-flow attitude is a tenacious strength to fight for what he believes.

@kippmorgan7143 2 жыл бұрын

Perfect timing!! Great vid

@adamnuttall1362 Жыл бұрын

found my self binge watching your content. I’ve just started to get into filmmaking and found your channel giving Grade A information. Thanks

@Ilikespace403 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! I really want to be a filmmaker myself and your videos are really helpful! Great vid.

@StandardStoryCo 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it, go get after it!

@umauma5537 Ай бұрын

quite underrated content, hats off sir

@LazyDev27 2 ай бұрын

I started writing a horror fantasy book and I've been scouring for information like this.

@GrimRplayZzYT Жыл бұрын

Thanks man, these tips would mostly help me, also I hope u would reach 100k really soon :)

@DaveTheTurd Жыл бұрын

Excellent. Glad I found your channel. Great content.

@kristianrave Жыл бұрын

you just helped me over a bit of a flat spot. thanks for that!

@TheRunningSongs 2 жыл бұрын

I like to write, but the main thing I’m trash at is characters, I can describe and write long stories, just no good characters, thanks.

@StandardStoryCo 2 жыл бұрын

Hope this helps!

@paujokmastercomedy9177 Жыл бұрын

There is nothing like trush everyone has his story keep on trying,,I am a writer

@kozankaexe2288 2 жыл бұрын

im trying make my first short film for a contest and video was helpfull for me! Thank u so mutch!

@aaronross9131 3 ай бұрын

Fantastic teaching! Thanks

@FULLofJOHN 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Kent

@purplealchemistofficial 2 жыл бұрын

“If your film is all about one bad after another happening to your character, you’re going to end up with a very passive, reactive character and that’s not exciting-” Levi Ackerman: Sorry, I know what you mean but that’s where my mind went.

@wamulwangekabwe5931 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for all this. Im using your videos to write my comic book. A first for my country

@yesfredfredburger8008 9 ай бұрын

Dr. Watson is a more passive narrator, compared to the protagonist, Sherlock, who he is reporting on

@TheKillerThrow 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant

@takemeserious6772 2 жыл бұрын

Quick question!! How long does it take u to edit this video??

@Angelpathfinder1 2 жыл бұрын

WoW 👏

@Thegingerbreadman223 7 ай бұрын

I have a question! While working around one of my own stories, ive developed quite a few stock characters. Is it necessary to go into detail about who they are, where they're from, their backstory, likes and dislikes?? Or simply state the basic and important things needed to be known about them and adress their role in the story?

@brads.3674 10 ай бұрын

I feel like a little higher camera angle might be more flattering.

@warrenjia2 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, bro, thanks for your great content! But I still think there are a lot for me to think. Um, is there any ideas to write a character for this logline? It's: A girl who relied deeply on an abusive boyfriend sees a normal couple in the park and decides to break up with her boyfriend.

@belivaboy 2 жыл бұрын

I am making my first short film and right now all I have is an Idea how do I turn my idea into a story

@cringeworthy4755 12 күн бұрын

What I do is I link the idea to a literary theme like love, consequences etc afterwards I figure out what question or statement I'm trying to answer or debate that links to the theme, as in "Can love conquer anything?" "How far would you go to support your family if your days were numbered?" Something like that. Then I create my Protagonist or if I have characters in mind already I pick my Protagonist (link them to the theme) and then I do the same thing for all of my other characters, by first considering their want and their belief and then their background, personality (values, likes and dislikes), then their relationships (including characters they clash with), and culture (the wider world they live in and, if it matters, their position/role in that world). Then you'll have your cast and then you can build your plot. For more info on plot, my go-to video is:

@lokeshnarasimhan7260 Жыл бұрын

One great example of memorable characters is undoubtedly the ones in THE HANGOVER trilogy..... Stu, Doug, Alan and Phil were ever lasting in our minds!!! And all of them were active throughout, had strong beliefs and of course were Rule-Breakers.... Who agrees with me?

@theedgereport7383 Жыл бұрын

Uncut Gems is one of the greatest character development stories ever as far as watching the main character make increasingly bad decisions

@AndieNow 2 жыл бұрын

what has helped you jump to starting a short film? I want to make one so badly but don't have a story or script haha

@AmonsShortFilms 11 ай бұрын

I have a question about this. I'm writing a script to a horror movie, were the killer is also the main character. (Kind of like American Psycho) However, I don't the viewers to know this until the end, and I also want to make it believable that he isn't the killer. Something I have noticed when watching movies were the killer is hiding their identity, they seem like a background character with out much detail. Like they're supposed to be over looked. So I'm wondering while writing the main character, if I should make it so only one side of him follows the "rules" in your video, and if the other "side" of him should be kind of bland and boring.

@larslarsen5414 Жыл бұрын

Who is that in the middle? I get the Dude and taxi driver on either side...

@UnnecessaryBelond 2 жыл бұрын

I pissed on myself and I aint even lyin 😭

@MaidenMacabre 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the information. I was looking for something to help me make my character in a vampire the masquerade campaign more endearing. I'll be applying some of your advice, cheers :)

@Squall17x Жыл бұрын

What If my main character is a child for the first 15% of the story?

@camilofx Жыл бұрын

A decisive character who's a bit of a rule breaker and a charismatic sociopath, with strong beliefs

@jymjym7995 Жыл бұрын

the fact that you brought pirates of the carribean as an example of a "boring passive main character" being a bad thing pretty much proves you wrong on its own. it's not that i'd say it's bad advice, in fact it's probably pretty good advice for people who aren't writer experts. i myself wouldn't really want a passive main character in my story. but i think "having passive main character = bad" whole thing is a misconception, that i dislike and i believe the same for every advice in this video. good advice, but that doesn't mean the opposite can't work and i believe that is important to address

@DAMON409 3 ай бұрын

Thats bullshit. Ive been involved in several projects that were character pieces that fell apart because there was no story, as in no goal that forced an evolution in the character.

@assasinscreedfilm 2 жыл бұрын

I strongly disagree with your opinion on the importance of the story, I think a good story is a good thing but not a necessary thing to make a good movie. For me some of the best movies like shawshank redemption, no country for old men , the godfather ,all have very basic stories and for me what make them very impressive is the technical aspect and what the filmmaker did with the story .

@phononanon 2 ай бұрын

Love your video, but the choice of Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean as an example of a passive main character felt like a complete misreading of the character. At multiple points he takes definitive action that drives the plot, especially in Acts 2 and 3. With such a poor example I couldn't help feeling like it actually took away some credibility. I know this video is a year old but I hope that's something you can improve on in the future. In fairness, it's safe to say that Jack Sparrow steals the show, but that doesn't prove Turner to be passive.

@showtale8325 Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure it's worth it to try to tell todays audience a good story. So jaded by video games bad movies and they recognize the ingredients, they should make their own films