Joss Whedon — Character Archetypes — Creating Characters

A guest post from screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon):

A few years ago I wrote a sci-fi script with lots of action, big set pieces. It did not sell. Whaaa! I can beat myself up in so many ways about this script. Or I can just make myself smile — knowing I had some fun writing it, worked hard, did the best I could at the time with this material. Or a little bit of both, probably.

Every once in a while, I think of the story, the script, what that movie I envisioned might be — and wonder if I should prod my agent to send it out again. Answer: No. Because I know I need to work on it first. The thing that needs the most work, I think, is the character development. They are not unique enough, lacking their own special doses of humanity and internal conflict. I can do Prep exercises and look to small films, short stories, close friends/family or people I see on the street for inspiration — to stimulate ideas for authentic emotional conflict in these characters. It is a good idea, also, to look to the work of a master of the genre — Joss Whedon.

Whedon writes fascinating characters in the sci-fi/fantasy realm. His stories are both intimate and large scale — his characters feel so real so much of the time. They just always seem to be these authentic individuals with real, accessible problems in extraordinary situations. And we can feel, as audience, how much they just want and need the same things see all do.

To get primed for my rewrite and the reconsideration of the characters in my sci-fi script, it is going to be so helpful and inspiring be doing some close study of the work of Joss Whedon. That is what I am doing now for myself and for a one week online class that starts June 2 at Screenwritingmasterclass.com.

For more information, go here.

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