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.

MAIN CHARACTERS - Screenwriting

Say you develop a world, characters, everything fits together.  But you can't come up with a conflict... because everything thing fits together.

That world is your "second act" world.  Your "underworld"

Brainstorm some characters who would NOT fit in with these characters.

A character who preaches opposite ideals.

A character who looks different

A character who's not welcome.

That's your main character and that's your first act.