“For a writer, every day is character day”
In fact, September 13 is actually Character Day!
In fact, September 13 is actually Character Day!
A guest post from Tom Benedek, screenwriter (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class.
SEPTEMBER 13 IS CHARACTER DAY! Sure, if you are writing a script, every day is Character Day. But this is something different!
Some people suck as human beings. And they never learn from their mistakes. Are they bad people? Will something happen to make them see the light, to turn it all around, find some kind of greatness?
That’s the kernel of a story or some kind of character arc. It may hook us because we’ve all lived through it in small or large ways.
#CharacterDay2017, is about CHARACTER. The traits that make each of us who we are in our own lives and to everyone and everything around us.
It’s happening to help people everywhere find ways conduct their lives in a better way. Take a look at the Periodic Table of Character Strengths:
This global event is about building character in ourselves and those around us to make the world a better place.
Of course, as writers, it’s impossible not to bring those characters you have in your head and on the page to the party as well.
Stories are always about character. We are the characters we create. Our own personal character will always be reflected in our writing one way or another.
This year will be the fourth annual Global Character Day, launched by filmmaker and Webby Awards founder, Tiffany Shlain. The idea is to get us all talking about “the importance of
character building in today’s increasingly distracted and over-connected world.” There will be events all over the world to discuss the positive human traits that encompass character and ways to make them multiply in all of us. There are films, study materials, places to get involved here.
Here is one of several short Character Day films:
As your script’s characters confront situations, how they react demonstrates their CHARACTER. There are probably CHARACTER FLAWS: Blind spots and bad habits. Will they overcome anything within themselves? Will they recognize more completely their own true nature? Can they change? Will they?
TV shows are built around a family of characters. If they are interesting to observe week to week, they are most likely struggling with some issues of character. They probably have some positive attributes nailed down. And perhaps there are some areas of life that are a work in progress for them. That is human.
As you watch TV characters struggle or just “do what they do,” you may identify with them, relate, or know someone else who is just like that, too. Or you may just drop your jaw and wonder as you ponder behavior that is completely foreign to your own life.
A relatable family of TV series characters usually covers a full spectrum of types with personal strengths and weaknesses.
Scott and I will be offering a free live Character class on Wednesday, September 13 to honor Character Day. Your script, your characters can change the world. So let’s do it.
And, oh yeah, I am Tom Benedek. I have a great TV pilot writing class (starting next Tuesday, September 5). For more information, go here.