AMLAN BASU FILM RESOURCES

How to Create a Relatable, Three-Dimensional, Unforgettable Character I was watching a documentary on the life Thomas Jefferson a while back when the idea for this article came to me. The life of Thomas Jefferson brings the word contrast comes to mind. His paradoxes continue to incite debate just as much, if not more than his accomplishments. He may be described a man who was private, yet craved friendships, a slave-holder who preached equality and an aristocrat who may have detested privilege. This makes him an intensely interesting figure, everyone trying to decipher his motives, understand the man behind the Declaration. Now imagine for a moment, if you created a character people would talk about 200 years down the line. Thomas Jefferson may have been a real figure but a fictional character who is just as polarizing could elicit the same admiration and debate years to come. As a fiction writer, you want your characters to be unforgettable. You want your readers t...

The Three Dimensions of Character Development Somewhere along the writing road you’ve surely read – and if you haven’t you will – a critic describe a protagonist in a story as one dimensional.  Or worse, an agent to whom you’ve submitted your work. The implication here is that there are other dimensions to explore as we develop our characters. But what are they?  Why don’t we ever hear characters described as two-dimensional?  What’s that extra dimension about, anyhow?  What does it even mean? And why are the only obvious three dimensional characters out there lately in a James Cameron blockbuster, or marching in a Disneyland parade?  At least we know what that means. The Deeper Dimensions of Character Given the implication that we should strive to write multi-dimensional characters, especially heroes and villains, it behooves us to understand what those other dimensions are all about. As with story structure,...

Three Keys to Believable Three-dimensional Characters Know their names, their motivations, and their fears When you sit down to write a new story, chances are you’re going to start by developing one of these elements: characterization, setting, or plot. Yeah, I nailed it. But before I strain my shoulder patting myself on the back, I may as well admit it was kind of a no-brainer. Those are the three key facets of any story. But here’s something you might not have known: Giving characters heart, soul, and some mighty real faults—yes, faults—is vital to creating memorable characters. Three Aspects of Great Characterization Today we’ll touch on names, motivations, and fears. Every character—major or minor—needs to be properly developed and fleshed out. There’s no sense adding someone to your story if he’s going to sit there like a splat of Gulden’s spicy brown mustard on Mom’s otherwise-immaculate kitchen floor. Whether it’s your protagonist, antagonist, comic relief, or a ...