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കഥാപാത്രങ്ങൾ: കഥാലോകത്തെ താമസക്കാർ
On Sep 8, Sunday, 4:00 PM

Characters: Residents of the Storyworld
by Praveen Balakrishnan
(Screenwriter)

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05/09/2024

“I think about my films for a long time, maybe years, but I write them in days.” — Anurag Kashyap

Great films take time to develop in the mind, but when the moment strikes, the story flows.

23/08/2024

18/08/2024

“What story should I write? Write the screenplay for the movie you desperately want to see but doesn’t exist yet. The story that’s missing from the world, waiting for you to bring it to life.”

09/08/2024

Character Arc
The changes that occur in a protagonist as they journey through the events of a story—or the changes that these events bring about in the protagonist—are what define the character arc.

Positive Arc
When the events of the story lead the character from a negative state to a positive one, this is known as a positive character arc.

Negative Arc
When the events of the story lead the character from a positive state to a negative one, this is known as a negative character arc.

Flat Arc
When the events of the story do not cause any significant change in the protagonist, but their steadfastness brings about change in their surroundings or in other characters, this is known as a flat character arc.

Just as the plot of a story unfolds, the character's journey also unfolds. When both paths are well-defined, the growth of the story reaches its full potential.

31/07/2024

“With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece; with the same script, a mediocre director can make a passable film. But with a bad script, even a good director can’t possibly make a good film.”
— Akira Kurosawa

24/07/2024

“It seems that the greatest difficulty is to find the end. Don’t try to find it, it’s there already.” — Sofia Coppola

19/07/2024

Unforgettable Characters

What makes a character truly unforgettable? Here are five key elements:

Backstory
A rich and eventful past that shapes the character's present personality.

Internal Conflicts
Mental struggles that define the character’s personality and add depth.

Mannerisms
Unique traits in how they stand, walk, and behave that make them memorable.

Distinct Voice
Unique speech patterns, vocabulary, and speaking style.

Character Arc
The significant changes a character undergoes due to the events of the story.

By focusing on these elements, you can create characters that resonate with your audience and stay with them long after the story ends.

17/07/2024

“Every scene in your screenplay should be able to answer three questions:

Who wants what from whom in this scene?
What happens if they don't get it?
Why does it need to happen in this scene right now?”
If these questions don't have satisfactory answers, cut the scene.
— David Mamet

14/07/2024

Is Your Screenplay Safe? How to Register Your Screenplay

Wondering how and where to register your screenplay to keep it safe?

Screenwriters Association (SWA):

Anyone interested in screenwriting can register their screenplay online by obtaining a fellow membership with the Screenwriters Association.

Indian Copyright Office:

You can also register your screenplay online through the Indian government's Copyright Office website.

India Post - Registered Post:

Mail a copy of your screenplay to yourself via registered post from your address to your address. Keep the envelope unopened to serve as proof of authorship and completion date.
Ensure your hard work is protected before sharing it with the world. Happy writing!

13/07/2024

"There are no bad stories, only badly told stories. Ideas are not created by us; they come to us if we keep our eyes open. Just as a fisherman waits for a fish to come to him, stories come to us if we are patient.
For a screenwriter, a story is like a fish to a cook. It doesn't matter where or how the fish was caught; what matters is how it is cooked.

No matter what your story idea is, if you can tell it beautifully through your screenplay, you are a great screenwriter."
— Thoughts inspired by the words of the great director David Lynch**

12/07/2024

“If writing a feature film screenplay is impossible, write a short film screenplay. If writing ten pages is impossible, write one page. If writing one page is impossible, write a paragraph.”

If you want to be a screenwriter — write.

— B**g Joon Ho (Filmmaker)

09/07/2024

“It is not the most brilliant who excel in film and writing, but the most patient. Those who succeed are those who have waited patiently.”

— Martin Scorsese

08/07/2024

CHARACTER ARCHETYPES Part -1
Archetypes can be defined as characters with similar natures that appear repeatedly in different stories in various forms. The famous psychologist Carl Jung is the originator of archetypes. Jung presented archetypes as patterns that influence human nature and mind. We are attempting to explore two types of archetypes that are helpful in screenwriting: Narrative Archetypes and Personality Archetypes. Personality Archetypes are categorized based on the character traits, while Narrative Archetypes are those that have become models due to their position in stories,
King:
A true leader, these characters lead, govern, protect, and if necessary, punish those around them. Exceptional confidence and sense of purpose are their hallmarks.
Warrior:
These characters fight against injustice with a strong sense of righteousness. Courage, selflessness, and a sense of responsibility are their special qualities.
Sage:
They strive to find truth using discernment and self-knowledge. These are people with equal measures of knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence.
Jester:
These are personalities who view life simply and present realities wrapped in humor. With a good sense of humor, their approach to life will be honest.
Trickster:
These are personalities capable of influencing people around them and transforming situations using their skills and cunning.
Lover:
Being tender-hearted and admirers of beauty, their goal will be a deep and beautiful relationship..
Explorer:
Their life will be a journey in search of new experiences. Their thoughts and actions will be filled with freedom and adventure.
Caregiver:
These are characters who, without expecting anything in return, serve as support and shelter for those around them, dedicating their lives to nurturing others through love and protection.

01/07/2024

“Screenwriting is like ironing. You move forward a little bit and go back and smooth things out.”

— Paul Thomas Anderson

28/06/2024

McGuffin - Red Herring - Deus Ex Machina
Three key techniques used in screenwriting are McGuffin, Red Herring, and Deus Ex Machina. These are utilized to drive the plot, mislead the audience, and resolve conflicts.

McGuffin
A McGuffin is an object, character, or event used to drive the plot forward, though it becomes less significant as the story progresses. It causes the main conflicts in the story. The term, which has no specific meaning otherwise, was coined by Alfred Hitchcock. Examples include secret documents, floppy disks, CDs, pen drives, stolen objects, and mysterious murders.

Red Herring
In suspense thriller movies, a red herring is an event, character, or object used to mislead the audience from the true cause of the conflict or the actual culprit. The term "red herring" literally means a type of smoked fish. Not only does it mislead the audience, but it is also used by some characters to deceive other characters within the story.

Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina is a plot device where a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected and unlikely occurrence. The term originates from ancient Greek theater, where a god would be lowered onto the stage by a machine to resolve the conflict. Examples include a financially struggling protagonist winning the lottery, a powerful friend's arrival, or a boat arriving just in time to save someone from drowning.

25/06/2024

“My mother wanted us to understand that the tragedies of your life one day have the potential to be comic stories the next.”
— Nora Ephron, Writer/Director, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle

24/06/2024

Antagonist ∝ Protagonist

To create a great protagonist, you first need a strong antagonist. For gender neutrality, we can refer to them as the protagonist and the antagonist.

An antagonist is someone who creates obstacles for the protagonist's goals. The more formidable the antagonist, the stronger the protagonist becomes. Strong antagonists make strong protagonists. So, who are these antagonists? Who are these villains?

The Classic Villain
Antagonists who directly oppose the protagonist and seek their destruction, embodying pure evil.

The Anti-Hero
Protagonists who turn into antagonists, justified in their actions by their own sense of right.

The Force of Nature
Non-human antagonists like natural forces, wild animals, diseases, etc.

The Internal Antagonist
When the protagonist's own mind becomes the antagonist, manifesting as self-doubt, laziness, mental illness, etc.

The Rival
An antagonist who doesn’t wish for the protagonist’s downfall but competes for the same goal, like job applicants, election candidates, or sports competitors.

This is not an exhaustive study of antagonists, just an introduction.

21/06/2024

No words, just visuals.
Unforgettable scenes.
If these images are in your memory, comment below the movie names.
This series will continue...

19/06/2024

“If you want to write a script, you can. Fear stops most people from writing, not lack of talent.” — Martin Scorsese

14/06/2024

There are only seven types of stories in the world...
Many of you might have heard this term before. But what are these seven types of stories? To explore this, we turn to Christopher Booker’s "The Seven Basic Plots." In his book, Booker elaborates on the idea that there aren't just seven types of stories but rather seven basic plot structures. Here are the seven basic plots as detailed in his book:
1.Overcoming the Monster
Stories where the protagonist tries to defeat a powerful opponent. The monster does not have to be literal.

2.Rags to Riches
The story of someone who rises from nothing to greatness. This doesn't have to be about money; it can be about abilities, status, or dreams.

3.Quest
A search to find or achieve something. It doesn't have to be about solving a crime; it can be any quest.

4.Voyage and Return
A journey and a return, with realizations along the way.

5.Comedy
Stories filled with misunderstandings and confusions, leading to humor, conflict and a happy ending.

6.Tragedy
Stories where the protagonist, due to their mistakes or fate, clings to a failed life and ultimately meets a disastrous end.

7.Rebirth
Stories where a protagonist, who has completely failed, makes a comeback through realizations and corrections.

Christopher Booker states that all stories are based on these seven basic plots or their various combinations.

13/06/2024

Malayalam cinema has seen many brilliant art directors, but when asked about the unforgettable art properties in Malayalam cinema, certain names immediately come to mind. Among them, one that stands out is from the movie Sphadikam. The way the props in this film transform into crucial dramatic elements of the story is beautifully showcased.

12/06/2024

“If you are having trouble getting started, think about key scenes that will be in your story. Write those scenes first, out of order. Now you are in the script; it can grow out from the inside instead of page one.”

— Taika Waititi

11/06/2024

A character and the problem they face start a story.
Every story we've ever heard or seen follows this same structure.

The tortoise racing against the hare in the old folk tale.
Raghavachakyar, who fights against the state to find his son who disappeared due to police brutality in "Piravi."
Induchoodan, who battles his father's powerful enemies to reclaim his ruined life after being falsely imprisoned in "Narasimham."
Rose, who tries to save her love and her life from the sinking ship in the North Atlantic Ocean in "Titanic."
No matter the story, the character and their crisis are clear.

Do you have a character and an interesting problem they face? If so, you have a beautiful story in your hands.

07/06/2024

"Don't write it right, just write it, then make it right later." – Stephen King

01/06/2024

**Powerful dialogues come with powerful subtext.**

**What is subtext?** Subtext is the unspoken meaning or message in a dialogue.

The words spoken in a dialogue are like the surface of the ocean; beneath that surface lie many hidden meanings. These meanings are created by the context, circumstances, actions, and expressions of the speaker.

When Bilal from the movie Big B says, "I know Kochi is not the same old Kochi, but Bilal is still the same old Bilal," the subtext contains multiple layers of meaning:

- Bilal used to be in Kochi.
- Kochi has changed significantly since Bilal left.
- There was nothing Bilal couldn't handle in the old Kochi.
- Despite the changes, nothing in Kochi has grown beyond Bilal's power.

These meanings form the subtext of this dialogue and make it powerful.

30/05/2024

Another method we follow at Act One Studios is the character journal. The idea is to note down details about the characters we encounter in our daily lives. We keep a book specifically for this, noting their appearance, occupation, clothing, and, if possible, their background and environment. These could be anyone – an auto driver, a fellow passenger, a waiter at a tea shop, an officer in the office we visited, or even our boss. As our journal grows, so do our characters and stories. We come to realize that the world itself is the greatest library for finding characters.
(The format for the journal is provided below as a downloadable file in the description.)
Character journal format download link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fY8w_4cLS2nMlRrzza-sJ2O7hl4ZBfWz/view?usp=sharing

-copy and paste the link on address bar and hit enter if it is not showing as a link.-

29/05/2024

“My world is not spectacle and explosion. It’s two people talking.”

— Taika Waititi

28/05/2024

What makes a character relatable?
Its is not their profession, background, or appearance, but their emotions. We connect with them because we've gone through similar emotions ourselves.

Like Saji, we have felt the guilt of not knowing how to atone.
Like Luke Antony, we have carried the burden of impossible revenge.
Like Mathan, we have loved despite knowing we will lose.