How Pro Screenwriters Create Characters

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 28 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 142

  • @nlg070301
    @nlg070301 4 роки тому +341

    That piece of advice from PTA about trying to write a scene for your character and seeing if they let you do it is just brilliant.

  • @sociallyineptspider-man2366
    @sociallyineptspider-man2366 4 роки тому +263

    What I love so much about the advice on this channel is that it isn't solely useful for just movies, ive learned so much that's helped me with my graphic novel, it's universal advice that can help in any story telling medium

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +39

      Thanks, man! That means a lot. Good luck to you on your graphic novel.

    • @dejavu011
      @dejavu011 4 роки тому +4

      ..or just about any form of expression! I think it's widely applicable

    • @Nobody-fb7ni
      @Nobody-fb7ni 4 роки тому +4

      Behind the Curtain
      It would be cool if you could expand to say books too. The Chuck Pahlaniuk stuff for “Fight Club” was really good. Maybe you could do George RR Martin, Stephen King, etc?

    • @bdawk511
      @bdawk511 4 роки тому +1

      It's helped me understand character as an actor as well. I love this channel haha

    • @cheesecakelasagna
      @cheesecakelasagna 3 роки тому

      Same! I'm doing a small-scale video game and these are so instrumental!

  • @sookielloyd78
    @sookielloyd78 3 роки тому +60

    "Doing interviews with the characters." Never thought about this but it makes so much sense!

  • @AllThingsFilm1
    @AllThingsFilm1 Рік тому +7

    This is the first channel where I feel I'm getting into the heads of screenwriters. Hearing about their process is so informative and helpful. Subscribed.

  • @Dina8485
    @Dina8485 4 роки тому +23

    This channel is hella slept on. Amazing that you can pull these quotes from these successful writers

  • @jonesjeremiah
    @jonesjeremiah 4 роки тому +11

    So it basically boils down to: have empathy!

    • @ClankyOtter
      @ClankyOtter 3 роки тому +5

      A true test for writers, and humanity alike

  • @ButtrNut32
    @ButtrNut32 4 роки тому +31

    Another great video, congratulations. The fact that you've interviewed great writers is an inspiration in itself. This channel and LFTS I find are the best deconstructions of storytelling.
    Personally, I use the old adage of "make the plot simple, but the characters complex" it's served me greatly. I love the tidbit about hypocrisy and a very real dirty truth to it.
    Look forward to your future video and projects.

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +3

      Thanks for the kind words. Taylor Sheridan is a writer who believes the same thing. All of his plots are some, so he can focus on character and theme.

  • @Boise78
    @Boise78 4 роки тому +50

    Great channel. Found this last week and have been binge watching all the content. Keep em coming! THANKS!

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +1

      Great to hear! Glad you're getting value from it.

  • @thischickkej
    @thischickkej 4 місяці тому +1

    Interviewing your characters is such a sick concept! I'll be practicing it in the future

  • @portlandgoose4727
    @portlandgoose4727 Рік тому +4

    Weird hearing that particular advice come from Jim Uhls, considering he didn’t even write Fight Club. The novel was written by Chuck Palanuik. Phenomenal screenwriting and advice, none the less.

  • @cheesecakelasagna
    @cheesecakelasagna 3 роки тому +9

    I really needed to hear that tip about hypocrisy! Thank you so much.

  • @beccag1107
    @beccag1107 4 роки тому +69

    Thank you so much for including female writers too!! You don't know how much we truly appreciate it, we have such a hard time getting representation in the film industry, so thank you for using your platform to elevate our voices as well.

  • @lorettabes4553
    @lorettabes4553 4 роки тому +8

    Some of these things I've thought of, but most of the advice here is new to me. It's so amazing to hear these perspectives and learn from them.

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +1

      Good! Listening to the people that are doing what you dream to do is the most valuable resource.

  • @brendanlorenzo7298
    @brendanlorenzo7298 3 роки тому +3

    I am so obsessed with your channel. Thank you for putting so much work into these videos, you’re an absolute gem!

  • @sketchyppl
    @sketchyppl 4 роки тому +3

    This is the best I've heard on the subject for long time - thank you !

  • @GustavoSilva-ny8jc
    @GustavoSilva-ny8jc Рік тому

    The character interview part and the last part were FUCKING AWESOME

  • @Tmb1995
    @Tmb1995 4 роки тому +10

    Really enjoy what you do and I benefit from it greatly. I’ve started watching a video before I begin a writing session to jump start me a bit. Thank you!

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +2

      That's really cool to hear! Glad it can get your creative brain churning. Thanks for watching.

  • @lucassilvamiranda4694
    @lucassilvamiranda4694 Рік тому +1

    Your channel is one of the best on YT. Congrats.

  • @CourtneyCoulson
    @CourtneyCoulson 4 роки тому +10

    11:07- every bad fanfiction ever!

  • @playGEMJI
    @playGEMJI 11 місяців тому

    Smashing video! Thank you for inspiring writers around the world. Greetings from 🇧🇬 Bulgaria.

  • @georgeg6036
    @georgeg6036 Рік тому

    When the characters start to talk to you then you know you are headed in the right direction.

  • @BodyTrust
    @BodyTrust 6 місяців тому +1

    I don't really know my characters until the second or third draft.

  • @squishedcockroach8579
    @squishedcockroach8579 2 роки тому +1

    Your videos are incredible! Subscribed

  • @kennardsmithwatson4192
    @kennardsmithwatson4192 3 роки тому +1

    This video is a gem!

  • @rishshortfilms
    @rishshortfilms 4 роки тому +2

    This is really helpful, thank you.

  • @ridleysingh3966
    @ridleysingh3966 3 роки тому +1

    Wow. Absolutely amazing!!!

  • @waltermanson999
    @waltermanson999 4 роки тому +2

    Amazing !!! Very inspirational !

  • @TethnekaIsBack
    @TethnekaIsBack Рік тому

    Krysty Wilson Cairns' advice is really good. I kinda do the same. I use to create a playlist in Spotify to get in the mood of the character like what would he listen to...

  • @TheCrankyDank
    @TheCrankyDank 4 роки тому +76

    I think it'd be cool to see a How They Wrote Avatar The Last Airbender. The show NOT the movie.

    • @patrick_dy3r
      @patrick_dy3r 4 роки тому +18

      “There is no Avatar movie in Ba Sing Se.”

    • @serugolino7867
      @serugolino7867 4 роки тому +4

      I know u wanna know about the show, but i can tell you about the movie.
      ok use ur imagination:
      they didn't even try

    • @mybismark2945
      @mybismark2945 4 роки тому +2

      guys
      there is no film about avatar
      THAT THING NEVER HAPPAND 😐😐😐

    • @cheesecakelasagna
      @cheesecakelasagna 3 роки тому +1

      The movie writing is so bad and a blatant disservice to the original.

    • @jamesbaxter5147
      @jamesbaxter5147 3 роки тому +1

      @@patrick_dy3r You don’t need to brainwash me to believe that, I’ll do so of my own free will.

  • @cine.te.philia3632
    @cine.te.philia3632 4 роки тому +1

    Always coming up with great videos

  • @bryceb1889
    @bryceb1889 4 роки тому +2

    The greatest characters from any television show, are the Fishcers from Six Feet Under; literally my favorite show, because if one there’s one character you don’t like, than maybe there’s one that you do. And even the characters we don’t like are understandable and can be relatable; not only this, but Six Feet Under’s characters just feel real, genuine, and act like us. The viewer.

  • @kevinhillary4057
    @kevinhillary4057 4 роки тому +1

    I really love this channel :’)

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому

      Kevin! That's good to hear! Come say hi in the discord and we'll chat about films and writing.

  • @dannyisthenewdaddy
    @dannyisthenewdaddy 3 роки тому +4

    My character is 80% myself
    So I think my character will be good

  • @Kishan_Baijnath
    @Kishan_Baijnath 4 роки тому +1

    Great video, as always.
    Thank you

  • @dragonstooth4223
    @dragonstooth4223 Рік тому +1

    essentially get into bed with your characters, have a good romp then look through their underwear drawer.
    Or give them the buffolo bill treatment ... wear them like a skin and become them when creating them so they have a life of their own.
    Thinking of characters like this, I like to think we writers have a super power. We can peer into alternate dimensions and what we think is our imagination is actually another universe and we are watching the people we call characters. Each new iteration of a story is our minds jumping to another dimension and seeing another alternative universe for that character.
    we are super heroes :)

  • @emfivethirty
    @emfivethirty 4 роки тому +1

    Amazing video!

  • @rohansuri9613
    @rohansuri9613 4 роки тому +4

    Can't thank you enough for all these videos.

  • @simonh7025
    @simonh7025 4 роки тому

    Just what I needed to hear, thank you

  • @pennyjane9906
    @pennyjane9906 11 місяців тому

    makes sense that jim uhls wrote fight club, the way he talks about "interviewing his characters" :D

  • @BehindtheCurtain
    @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +15

    Who are the best film characters of all time? Tell me your thoughts on the official Discord server: discord.gg/xxTqXXd

    • @Itsreag
      @Itsreag 4 роки тому +29

      Walter White

    • @malinhessedahl
      @malinhessedahl 4 роки тому +1

      Love this video❤ keep up the Good work ❤📷🎥🎬😍🌎😎

    • @waywardmind
      @waywardmind 4 роки тому +1

      President Laura Roslin from Battlestar Galactica. She's righteous; she's a cheat. She's got a soft and empathetic side; she gains info in 15 seconds from a Cylon that Starbuck couldn't break and then ices his ass. She's hopeful; she despairs. She's selfless; she abandons her duties and falls into herself and her illness. Throughout the series, she grows and changes. You always understand her, her motivations, and her actions, but you don't always like her.

    • @malinhessedahl
      @malinhessedahl 4 роки тому +1

      Little women of Greta grewig 2019 , lady Bird 2017 , beautifull boy, Call me my your name , the greatese showman 2016 , Titanic 1997 , Colette , and many more diffrent movies❤❤❤❤

    • @BehindtheCurtain
      @BehindtheCurtain  4 роки тому +2

      @@Itsreag One of the greatest for sure!

  • @ShaneJoshua1980
    @ShaneJoshua1980 3 роки тому +3

    What bugs me is I have never had the example of the character literally talking to me. Has anyone had this at all. I always feel like I'm leading them.

    • @elijahalbiston
      @elijahalbiston 7 місяців тому

      Same here. I think what's good about screenwriting is that, if the script is good enough, your characters will talk to you. You're laying the foundation of a "real person" so that an actor can simply step inside that and "live." If everything on paper seems enough like a character then all you need is for them to become three-dimensional.

  • @sid_c2136
    @sid_c2136 4 роки тому +13

    This was beautiful. Especially when he described the 3 dimensionality of a character.

  • @amannagar1108
    @amannagar1108 4 роки тому +2

    Please make a separate video on JAMES CAMERON

  • @j.walker6845
    @j.walker6845 4 роки тому +1

    Cheers, very informative

  • @jeromebell1245
    @jeromebell1245 7 місяців тому

    Hi, please can you tell me what original source interview is the Charlie Kaufman stuff from? Especially the bit around 8mins 53 secs in your video where he talks about writing dialogue before he really knows what the characters would say? Thanks

  • @jonahsebin4692
    @jonahsebin4692 4 роки тому +6

    How do you not have a million followers??

  • @baldur9591
    @baldur9591 4 роки тому +1

    That background music is an excellent choice to end the video, Anyone know the name?

  • @mmafightcoach
    @mmafightcoach 2 роки тому +1

    I don't need to create characters. I know enough real characters.

  • @mybismark2945
    @mybismark2945 4 роки тому +1

    krysty wilson cairns irsh accent took me off gurad

  • @toonsandro
    @toonsandro 4 роки тому

    Now I know how people who write first feel.
    I have infinite power now

  • @chadbaptiste4227
    @chadbaptiste4227 4 роки тому +1

    Aaron Sorkin is the side of caution I err on.

  • @leeluv4176
    @leeluv4176 3 роки тому +1

    Can you do lady bird?

  • @connorklebs6432
    @connorklebs6432 2 роки тому

    What’s the background music?

  • @chaeyoungvideos5742
    @chaeyoungvideos5742 4 роки тому +9

    is this reuploaded because of the greta audio?

  • @healmeimhurt-.-
    @healmeimhurt-.- 2 роки тому

    Love

  • @papasmerc4498
    @papasmerc4498 2 роки тому

    Background song?

  • @sliceoflife11
    @sliceoflife11 4 роки тому +1

    Is there an example where all the characters are three dimensional?

    • @keokihiga8462
      @keokihiga8462 4 роки тому +2

      I think the Wire would be the closest

  • @jugandoconlodivertido1914
    @jugandoconlodivertido1914 5 місяців тому

    ❤❤❤

  • @XxSEETH3RxX
    @XxSEETH3RxX Рік тому

    Making them a hypocrite is great advice

  • @infraredtoa9105
    @infraredtoa9105 3 роки тому +3

    I have my own way: I give my characters three positive qualities, and three negative ones.
    Boom. A character's born.

    • @ufoash1066
      @ufoash1066 Рік тому

      But does that make a three-dimensional character though?
      Can the people you know in real life be boiled down to three positive qualities and three negative ones? I'd say it's hard to make some simple labels develop into realistic characters

  • @vanntitrises2715
    @vanntitrises2715 4 роки тому

    House md please

  • @malinhessedahl
    @malinhessedahl 4 роки тому +1

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @MsBob314
    @MsBob314 6 місяців тому

    The three most commercially successful here are Gerwig, Tarantino and Gilligan. Interesting the range of techniques. One thing in common is that they write the shit out of their screenplays, the one exception being Resevoir dogs, which was written in two weeks. I’ve written 30* scripts and gotten two features made. I’m def a structure guy.

  • @vladimirhorowitz
    @vladimirhorowitz 4 роки тому +3

    I like how the guy seamlessly goes from "antagonists" to "villains" to "far-right conspiracy theorists." Clearly a diehard Trump voter.

  • @alexokin6819
    @alexokin6819 Місяць тому

    The mor talki c les writi it write itself dconly wha d greats do it

  • @alexokin6819
    @alexokin6819 Місяць тому

    Iam me im myself welf

  • @formulaic78
    @formulaic78 Рік тому

    Character depth is overrated. Indiana Jones is a professor who dons a fedora and a whip and cracks one liners. Wonderful character but pretty 2D. Any greater depth he has was brought in during the telling of the stories.

  • @alexokin6819
    @alexokin6819 Місяць тому

    Tjree d els ir fake same

  • @curtisnewton895
    @curtisnewton895 3 роки тому

    jee all these movies are terrible examples, they are horrendously boring

    • @TomEyeTheSFMguy
      @TomEyeTheSFMguy 2 роки тому +1

      They're not boring, you simply just have no taste.

    • @briamusic1845
      @briamusic1845 2 роки тому +1

      All these movies are so different tho how can you find them all boring