Contradictions Are The Secret To Writing Complex Characters - Jonathan Blum

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  • Опубликовано: 24 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 61

  • @theshizl4400
    @theshizl4400 Год назад +19

    A thousand-sided object is a jagged circle in my mind, each individually side labeled as an aspect of a character i.e. Life outlook, how self-aware he is, Career, dreams, opinions, experience, etcetera.

    • @jimjo8541
      @jimjo8541 Год назад

      I sorta few a character as a stone that’s been knocked around, thrown from place to place, eroded by rivers and streams. No two stones are alike.

  • @AnnoyingMoose
    @AnnoyingMoose Год назад +21

    Most diamonds are cut to have 58 facets but we only need to see a dozen or so points of light scattered by one in order to be dazzled.

  • @MFJLabs
    @MFJLabs Год назад +6

    A thousand-sided object -- excellent. Thank you.

  • @greggh
    @greggh Год назад +8

    5:24 - This very same plot device was used in The Verdict with Paul Newman. It was a very powerful part of the film.

  • @schm00b0
    @schm00b0 Год назад +24

    All D&D players can imagine a 20-sided object :D

    • @intellectually_lazy
      @intellectually_lazy Год назад

      right, and they make 100 sided dies too, even tho' we all know 2d10 will do the same thing

    • @schm00b0
      @schm00b0 11 месяцев назад

      @@intellectually_lazy Oh, boy - do I agree with you! But my comment was for fun.
      If we are talking about writing - know what you are writing about, let that dictate your characters, let your characters paint what you're writing about, let your characters drive your plot.
      If it doesn't work, your characters aren't good for your theme.
      P. S. Theme = Charactes = Plot

  • @RocketKirchner
    @RocketKirchner Год назад +52

    Aristotle said that in Greek Tragedy that motive is not important but rather what will a character do next . That is narrative drive .

    • @StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo
      @StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo Год назад +3

      Yeah, well, Aristotle is dead, this fella's alive. I'll take the live one.

    • @feandil666
      @feandil666 Год назад

      Aristotle was an idiot. He thought everything could be explained by reasoning and refused to experiment, and he was wrong on pretty much everything.

    • @RocketKirchner
      @RocketKirchner Год назад +1

      When it came to his poetics he laid the foundation for aesthetics in the arts . That has never been outdated like his metaphysics and physics .

    • @miggseye
      @miggseye Месяц назад

      From an objective point of view that may be true. From the subjective and authors point of view it is important. And that’s where tension and suspense can be created. Things are not always like they appear.
      Character A may rescue Character B, who’s in distress and trapped in their house. And you think on the surface, wow, Character A is a hero who’s motive was to save Character B. But really Character A wanted to steal something from Character Bs house. Motivation matters… definitely to the author writing the story and eventually to the reader/watcher when the true motivation is revealed.

    • @Daniel2374
      @Daniel2374 Месяц назад +1

      ​@@StepbyStepPhotographyandVideo If this guy were to die, would his opnion suddenly be invalid?

  • @filmcourage
    @filmcourage  Год назад +9

    What did you enjoy most about this video?

    • @RocketKirchner
      @RocketKirchner Год назад +1

      Confidence man by Melville

    • @dinsfire8489
      @dinsfire8489 Год назад +3

      the genius at work

    • @snailbait
      @snailbait Год назад +2

      That visual of the 1000-sided object is great! Character development can generate a LOT of information, too much to put into a story, and this helps me trust I can pare down in a smart way.

    • @vashstampede4459
      @vashstampede4459 Год назад

      I like gaining insight into character development. It's been a big help with my own series, "D-Storm Journals".

  • @bravelittleroomba
    @bravelittleroomba Год назад +12

    When you said thousand-sided object I thought of a disco ball, a big one

    • @intellectually_lazy
      @intellectually_lazy Год назад

      ja, am i the only one who's sick of being told what i can't envision? has anyone ever heard of speak for yourself? don't dictate my experience to me?

  • @filmcourage
    @filmcourage  Год назад +7

    Can you think of an example of a character contradiction?

    • @recoveringintrovert717
      @recoveringintrovert717 Год назад +3

      One of my characters wants independence from her family because she views herself as being morally superior to them, but she is also too afraid and reluctant to leave the luxuries of her wealthy household because she sees what the world is like for the poor outside her family's estate. Her stalemate of wants makes writing her character development hard, but your videos have been helping

    • @davidhayden4743
      @davidhayden4743 Год назад +8

      I'll go to TV world (forgive me). Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec. He has open distain for government and does not think his department should exist. But he treats his workers well and helps them become better workers. So his core decency won't allow him to treat his workers poorly even when they are engaged in a business he hates.

    • @Account.for.Comment
      @Account.for.Comment Год назад +2

      Vito Corleone. A great, intelligent father who was unable to deter his children from entering the life of crime. Instead they entered crime due to him, resulting in one son being gun down, one son being killed by his brother, one son died alone and a daughter who suffer by the son-in-law. Such a great father. A crimelord that was deeply respected by almost all.

    • @BD76EandM
      @BD76EandM Год назад

      Ricky Phitts' Dad in American Beauty Colonel Phitts played by Chris Cooper. He was so anti-gay, but turned out to be gay.

    • @aarkmish8087
      @aarkmish8087 Год назад +1

      Dr Hannical Lecter. A Psychiatrist who understands the minds of serial killers and he is himself a cannibalistic serial killer.

  • @Mrsschamain
    @Mrsschamain Год назад +1

    Great advice!

  • @intellectually_lazy
    @intellectually_lazy Год назад +1

    when i catch my characters acting uncharacteristically, i ask myself why - i've developed plot and character like this - sometimes it just needs to be changed, but sometimes it turns out there's a reason, it might be the conflict to which you referred, or a motive hidden from the audience, other characters and/or the character themselves, or maybe something else altogether. i know where to look because it nags me, even before i can identify it

    • @intellectually_lazy
      @intellectually_lazy Год назад +1

      oh yeah, and i give serious consideration to what rare feedback i do get too. i don't always take the advice, but i seriously consider all of it

  • @intellectually_lazy
    @intellectually_lazy Год назад

    i have a character who has real byronic hero energy, another that's pure id, and i think they're both analogous to relatable in their over-the-top ways, but the third character is real co-dependant, comparatively sensible, reliable. i think a lot more people can relate to the third, not so much me, but i do know a lot of people like that

  • @BD76EandM
    @BD76EandM Год назад +8

    I'm guilty of calling myself simple🤣

  • @rogerfurlong1535
    @rogerfurlong1535 Год назад +8

    This man appreciates the music of Alannis Morissette I'd wager.

  • @ComicPower
    @ComicPower Год назад

    I want the Skylar and IT worker story. Can we crowd source to make this happen?

  • @intellectually_lazy
    @intellectually_lazy Год назад

    i heart the hell out of duncan idaho, and half-cocked jack, and "jerk-ass" homer. i don't have to like everything they do or agree with their worldviews to love them as great (over-the-top) characters

  • @claubarreira508
    @claubarreira508 Год назад

    Yes, I'm a simple person!

  • @intellectually_lazy
    @intellectually_lazy Год назад

    i can envision an object with one, and yet infinite sides facing in all directions
    it's called a sphere

  • @intellectually_lazy
    @intellectually_lazy Год назад

    ja, i keep thinking how much lisa from the room's friends all suck

    • @intellectually_lazy
      @intellectually_lazy Год назад

      i really don't think that's what wiseau intended, but who can really tell about that?

    • @intellectually_lazy
      @intellectually_lazy Год назад

      and dr. frankenstein is a deadbeat dad, but eh, that might be what mary intended. idk

  • @Mykal06
    @Mykal06 Месяц назад

    To anyone reading this, please repent and believe the gospel! There is a loving God who wants to know you and save you. Jesus died on the cross and resurrected so we can be forgiven of our sins and be saved. Please consider the state of your soul. Believe in Jesus and follow Him so you may have salvation. Life is short, please make the right choice today!

  • @wexwuthor1776
    @wexwuthor1776 Год назад +1

    This fellow seems to be making things more complicated than they have to be.

    • @filmcourage
      @filmcourage  Год назад +5

      How do you develop complex characters?

    • @wexwuthor1776
      @wexwuthor1776 Год назад +2

      @@filmcourage I take the more zen approach. Be still and let the muse do what she does best. That's the flow where the story writes itself.

    • @wexwuthor1776
      @wexwuthor1776 Год назад +4

      @@jonlittle5032 A story can be complex. The road to writing it doesn't have to be.

    • @milkflavored
      @milkflavored Год назад +1

      Agreed. I’d appreciate more examples if they’re unable to simplify the concept

    • @YouWinILose
      @YouWinILose Год назад +6

      He takes his craft seriously and puts in a great deal of thought, and asks others to do the same. That is a feature, not a bug.