Developing a Character

Whilst reading the chapter "Structure and Character" from Robert McKee's biography of characters-"Story" we were to pick out what makes a character and what develops a character. Here are my points:-

• Characterisation Vs. Character:

True Character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure--the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature.--from Robert McKee's book 'Story'

For example if your character saw a hit and run would you go and help the victim and call the police or would you run away from the crime scene and just suppose some other citizen would just walk by and discover the struggling/dead victim. This is what is makes the audience love or hate the character by allowing the audience to decide whether his choice was correct or not.

Characterization is the seen qualities of a human being; their vocabulary, accent, clothes, occupation, personality, values- all aspects that we knowingly take in from the character physically.

• Character Revelation:

The revelation of a character is whether they have changed throughout the film or not. If in the first 40 minutes of the film a the character has found no love in her life and she is sour and nasty then the last 20-30 minutes she manages to get with the man she desires then the audience will start to change their minds about their feelings towards the character and come to like her rather than detesting her bitter personality.

Character Arc: Taking the principle further yet: The finest writing not only reveals true character, but arcs or changes that inner nature, for better or worse, over the course of the telling.--from Robert McKee's book 'Story'

• Climax and Character:

 The last act of the film is critical to the movie because if the last 30 minutes has no turn to it then the film becomes boring and "will die over it's opening weekend"(Mckee's "Story").

"Thou shalt save the best for last. The final movement of a ballet, the coda of a symphony, the couplet of a sonnet, the last act and it's Story Climax--these culminating moments must be the most gratifying, meaningful experiences of all."--from Robert McKee's book 'Story'