Monday, October 28, 2013

Steve Kaire on Character Arc

Character arc is the change one of your main characters goes through from the beginning of your story until the end. Every well-written screenplay should have at least one character who learns something major and changes his behavior or attitude in the course of the script.

In the drama “Rain Man,” the Tom Cruise character starts out mistreating his autistic brother who he’s kidnapped and holding for ransom because he feels cheated out of an inheritance. By the end of a cross country adventure, the Cruise character learns to love his brother and ultimately turns down a large check in order to maintain contact with him.

In the movie “Liar, Liar,” Jim Carey plays an attorney who is forced to tell the truth for twenty four hours because of a wish he makes to his son. By the end of the film, Carey has not only exhausted all the comic potential that this high concept idea generates but he becomes a better father in the process for his honesty. That is his character arc.

Even though virtually every story has one character undergoing an arc, there are a few notable exceptions. James Bond is essentially unchanged from beginning to end in every film of the franchise. In “Godfather 2,” Al Pacino’s character stays ruthless throughout the movie and has no arc at all. In “The French Connection,” Popeye Doyle’s character remains a reckless, obsessive detective until the closing credits despite having just accidentally killed a fellow officer.

Despite these exceptions, your scripts should have at least one major character who goes through a change in his belief or behavior.

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Steve Kaire is a Screenwriter/Pitchman who’s sold 8 projects to the major studios on spec without representation. His CD, “High Concept -- How to Create, Pitch & Sell to Hollywood” is available on his  website along with more articles. HighConceptScreenwriting.com





Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Coverage Ink Oktoberfest Sale - 20% off!


Guten Tag, Dudes und Frauleins!

It's October, so what better excuse for a SALE? From now until 10/25, all scripts submitted to www.coverageink.com for analysis are 20% off. Just use this discount code when you submit:

OKTOBERFEST20

This sale includes all features and TV pilots (but note, discounts cannot be combined.) So hoist an overflowing stein of Hefeweizen and salute yourself for saving dough and getting top-flight analysis of your screenplay from CI.

The demand for great TV pilots has never been greater; but everyone is still looking for features that can be done for a price as well. The industry is hopping until the holidays, so the time is now to get your material shined up and out there any way you can. Submit your script at:

www.coverageink.com

And don't forget to include the discount code OKTOBERFEST20 on your order form. We'll deduct the 20% from your invoice and get back to you with insightful and empowering notes on your screenplay. Go for it!

"One of the best coverage services" -- TrackingB.com

Jim C.
www.coverageink.com