The antagonist may be the most misunderstood character type, but fortunately Michael Tucker is here to offer some clarity. In his most recent episode of Lessons from the Screenplay, Michael breaks down the inner-workings of Erik Killmonger, the antagonist in Black Panther. Watch the video below, and subscribe to the Lessons from the Screenplay channel... Continue Reading →
Lessons from the Screenplay: The Perfect Antagonist
It's time to share another amazing video lesson from Michael Tucker. This video is the most viewed of his Lessons from the Screenplay series on YouTube, and with good reason. It breaks down the components of a compelling antagonist as demonstrated by Heath Ledger's unforgettable Joker. Watch, learn, then subscribe to Lessons from the Screenplay... Continue Reading →
Dark Desires: 3 Things Your Antagonist Wants
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Despite the fact that many stories pit heroes against non-human forces as their central point of conflict, the vast majority of stories throughout history have been about a hero fighting a single human antagonist. For every San Andreas (man vs. nature) or Jurassic World (man vs. monster), there are 10 films that... Continue Reading →
Great Villains Make Great Movies: 3 Things Your Villain Needs
by Gabriel Storment (@SeaStorm24) For every hero, there’s a villain. And for every good villain, there’s a bad villain. Too often in movies, the only reason villains behave badly is because if they didn’t, the hero wouldn’t have anything to do. Every hero needs a foil, but when that foil is nothing more than a... Continue Reading →
Be Mean to Your Characters: 3 Ways to Create Conflict
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Most writers like to think they’re nice people. But is it possible you might be too nice? Have you ever tried to see how mean you can be to your characters? Engaging storytellers quickly learn that becoming diabolical toward their protagonist can be an effective tool for keeping their stories enchanting.... Continue Reading →