tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17813352.post421811341889876548..comments2023-10-11T03:32:43.592-06:00Comments on Fencing With the Fog: What Your Characters WantMaryAn Batchellorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02465966881051431143noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17813352.post-43608374792500439152012-04-27T15:40:36.839-06:002012-04-27T15:40:36.839-06:00Well, E.C., in 2006 and 2007, I wrote about 375 po...Well, E.C., in 2006 and 2007, I wrote about 375 posts that were mostly heavy duty screenwriting content. The time came for me to do more screenwriting than writing about it.<br /><br />As for "wants", I don't think you could be further away from me on this one. In every scene somebody should WANT something, even it's just a glass of water. Many times it will relate specifically to their situation - Scarlett wants Ashley, Luke wants to rescue Princess Leia, Juno wants a home for her baby, Olive wants to win Little Miss Sunshine, Woody wants to go to college with Andy, Dr. Hammond wants to save Jurassic Park, etc. <br /><br />BUT....<br /><br />there are a whole slew of little wants as a result of, conflicting with, or hindering the big wants, too and they are all related to situation/plot.<br /><br />Let's take Gone With the Wind - Ashley wants to live in peace, Scarlett wants to be in Atlanta, Rhett wants Scarlett. Scarlett wants a hat, Rhett wants a kiss, Mammie wants a red petticoat, Scarlett wants money to save Tara, it goes on and on and each one of these wants is related to a conflict which is connected to the main want - Scarlett wants Ashley and will do anything to get him.MaryAn Batchellorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02465966881051431143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17813352.post-78499225318677975932012-04-27T12:07:48.322-06:002012-04-27T12:07:48.322-06:00FINALLY a content-based post! What took you so lo...FINALLY a content-based post! What took you so long, MarryAn?<br /><br />GREAT quote from Terry Rossio; characters wants push out into the story, whereas circumstances push in. <br /><br />Knowing what a chacter "wants" is a totally misnomer. It's bullshit. I mean IF you try to make real life characters, in real life how many people do you know that are totally focused on their "wants"? Wants is bare-bones DULL character stuff. You need characters that vastly transend "wants." <br /><br />Most scenes I write are geared to advance PLOT. Plot is suppior to character. WHY? Because story trumps individual character -- in the movies -- unless you're writing a bio picture about some super, well-known icon that has a built-in interest. <br /><br />Glad to read you're fine-tunning your Nicol's submission -- me too :-) Was hoping to get this year's submission reviewed by Scriptshaddow BEFORE the May 1, deadline; but it looks like I've been passed over. Sigh. After 8 years of doing this, you get used to it. <br /><br />Have a great weekend. Hope you make your diamond shine.<br /><br />- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WAE.C. Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748007729066148300noreply@blogger.com