Root Note - Root Scene - Music Theory and Screenwriting

The root note of a chord.

It's like the first scene of a story.

It defines the story.

Point of View

Every scene your main character is in....show their pov and show them acting for or against what is happening.

If another character is driving hard in the scene...make your main character drive harder.  Even if they might "lose" in the scene...they should be fighting every step of the way.

Fish out of Water - Screenwriting

In a way, every story is about a fish out of water.

Take a fish(character), pull him out of the water and throw rocks at him, put him back in the water.

Your concept is a fish out of water.

What is my Genre? - Screenwriting

The main characters personal objective combined with the story world equals the genre.

Focus on a clear personal objective and keep the story world consistent and people get it.

The First Scene in Your Story - Screenwriting

I know this may sound ridiculous but your main characters personal objective should be made clear in the first scene.

Through Action or Dialog or both.

This is what they want more than anything.

In the first scene.

Call to Action

General Call to Action - Bomb discovered - Go to the school and see what's going on.

Personal Call to Action - You're alcohol addiction caused you to blow your cover.  You're fired.

Writing Inspiration

Just write, bro.

Character Flaws

Need a character flaw?

Watch toddlers interact and listen to their parents or teachers correct their behavior.

"Tommy, don't hit Sara.  We don't hit girls."
"Sara, don't say mean things to Heather.  We talk nice to each other."
"Bruce, stop kissing Martha.  We don't kiss people unless it's appropriate."

And the list can go on.

Take those behaviors and "grow them up" into adult behaviors.

Man hits woman.
Girl bullies other girl.
Man treats woman like meat.

Point of View - Screenwriting

Passive Point of View - Scene after scene we watch the same character being pushed around, arguing, or just floating.

Active Point of View - Scene after scene we watch the same character pushing, struggling, making different acts, attempts, tries, toward reaching a specific goal. 

A Strong Main Character

What does it mean to be a strong main character?

A strong main character wants something.  They want something that is "bad".

Led by their ego, they want something that devalues other characters.

The stakes raise as the main character moves toward getting what they want.

As they follow their ego, another character moves into the crosshairs of the bad guy who's following the same ego drive.


A weak main character wants something that is "good" from the outset.

"I want this, because it will give me this." - strong main character

"I want this because it will help this character" - weak main character

IN OTHER WORDS:

I'm talking about a flaw.

I'm talking about the interplay between Flaw and Strength.

I'm talking about EGO Vs. SELFLESS

I'm talking about being controversial.

I'm talking about Being in Contrast to how you believe people should act.

But, how can a main character behave like that and be a hero?
That's what the third act is for.  If it's a "comedy"

The 1st and second are there to show them how their bad behavior has led them and others down a dark road.

If it's a tragedy or tragi-comic tale then the third act may head somewhere even darker.

BUT at the top of the hill, the start of the tale, the beginning of the story, the main character has to want and act on that "bad" want until they hit a dead end at the end of act 2.

Who's the group?

The character has to want something that will affect a specific set of characters.

CHARACTER WANT - Screenwriting

Your characters want/goal give you your start and your end.

They either have something and it is taken away from them.

or they are made aware of something and believe it will make their life better.

If your character is happy then take what makes them happy away.

If your character is sad, introduce them to something that will make them happy.