by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Sometimes, one of the most effective ways to learn about story concepts is to take an in-depth look at a single narrative and focus on the elements that make it work. Joe Oppenheimer’s short film, PLEA, provides an excellent template for examining how a character can develop, regardless of the length of the... Continue Reading →
Crafting Characters Across Formats
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Many writers decide what format they will be working in before they ever write the first word of their story. There’s certainly nothing wrong with this approach. Acknowledging one’s strengths and leanings toward storytelling in long-form films, serialized television and streaming formats, or non-linear virtual reality can be helpful in determining the... Continue Reading →
5 Wounds to Give Your Character
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) One of the most fascinating and under-discussed characters in Wonder Woman is the villain, Dr. Poison. She is an intelligent woman, immersed in her work, but driven by hatred that causes her to develop vicious methods of inflicting pain on humanity. Her most striking physical characteristic is a mask she wears to hide the... Continue Reading →
8 Character Archetypes to Build Your Story Around
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Many creators often confuse archetypes with stereotypes. While stereotypes confine who a character is, archetypes open up characters and cause us to relate to them on a deeply psychological level. They reinforce the mythic connection between an audience and the characters in a story. We see ourselves in archetypes. Author Jonah Sachs... Continue Reading →
4 (American) Gods for Your Characters to Worship
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) The Starz Network’s most recent hit, American Gods, explores the idea that the gods of ancient times still exist, but have been weakened as people’s beliefs have become fixated on new gods – the cultural concepts that we have come to worship. Author David Foster Wallace once said that we all worship something.... Continue Reading →
5 Ways to Use the Weather in Your Story
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Depending on where you call home, the weather may be heating up right now. In Los Angeles, triple digits have started to creep into our forecast. Most writers enjoy crafting their stories in nice comfortable rooms, and because we usually seek out a pleasant environment when we write, it’s easy to forget... Continue Reading →
BEATRIZ AT DINNER: A Conversation with Writer Mike White
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Mike White understands oddballs. He has made a career writing about fish out of water and the kids most people didn’t want to play with. His work has spanned the realm of indie classics like Chuck and Buck, to mainstream hits like School of Rock and Nacho Libre, to critically-acclaimed TV like... Continue Reading →
How to Develop a Great Character in 7 Days
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) It’s easy to become impatient when writing a script. Many of us type FADE IN on the first day we have an idea for a story. Granted, there are some writers who actually work successfully that way. But for most of us, writing is a slow, painful process that requires a lot... Continue Reading →
3 Factors for Choosing the Age of Your Main Character
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) None of us are getting any younger. Fortunately for us, our characters can effortlessly move through time to whatever age we deem most helpful for our stories. Often in the screenwriting world, the age of a character in your script is driven by casting, which is an important consideration when looking to... Continue Reading →
4 Overlapping Ways Characters Express Love Visually
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Demonstrating internal processes inside characters can be difficult. Seeing that a protagonist has learned a lesson, realized their greatest fault, or found true love can be challenging to paint with an external brush, since these transformations happen inside a character’s psyche. Showing an audience what your character truly loves can provide a... Continue Reading →