good screen-writing book? - Page 3 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > And Now, For Something Completely Different... > The Archives > Read About It
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Read About It
Some old-fashioned book-learnin' will do you some good.

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 8th, 2004, 03:50 PM   #31
Air China Pilot
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Posts: 2,389
Josh, the meaning behind such stock questions like "what does the character want?" is to urge the screenwriter to make each scene raise the stakes for the viewer. That is, to make the viewer care what is happening on the scene and care all the way to the end of the film. With the long play feature form, you are asking the viewer to commit, over 90 minutes or more, to caring about the character(s) and sticking with the story.

When you think about films with very poor characterization most of the time the problem is because what the character does A) doesn't make sense or B) doesn't have any importance for the viewer.

Many films that are not successful are because they makers don't care enough about their characters to make them believable. The situations may be familiar but what the characters do is either cliched, insufficiently motivated or even counter to the logic of the story.

In a short film, these things don't really matter because the arc of the character is again short. In that case you can usually rely on situations and on the audience filling in a lot of the information for themselves. Over the course of a feature you have to put a lot more work into it.
__________________
--
Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com | stuff about living in Vancouver | My Flickr photo gallery
Keith Loh is offline  
Old December 8th, 2004, 08:04 PM   #32
Slash Rules!
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 5,472
Alright, guys, thanks. I appreciate it.
Josh Bass is offline  
 

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > And Now, For Something Completely Different... > The Archives > Read About It


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:25 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network