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Alternatives to Character Fractalling
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Author:  Andorin [ April 12th, 2014, 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Alternatives to Character Fractalling
(Disclaimer: these are not my original ideas. I got them from my screenwriting textbooks; the titles to which evade me at the moment.)

So I have been doing a bit of screenplay writing lately (mostly just short films), and I have found that there is an interesting approach to character development in film that might be of service for your characters. It is a bit simpler than the Character Fractalling, so you don't get as much depth. However, it is a lot faster and can be done while you are writing. Thus you can get to know your character while you write, and then go back to make adjustments. Maybe you've heard of some of these techniques. Also, I would love to hear any other methods for approaching character development, so please feel free to discuss, disagree, ask questions, etc.

Basically, if you can answer the following questions for each of your characters in the story overall as well as for each scene, then you are well on your way to creating interesting characters. (Whenever I say "scene", just take that to mean a continuous flow of action with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. The word "chapter" doesn't work for this, because a chapter can contain many scenes depending on your writing style).

4 W's
What does the character want?
Why do they want it?
What's in the way?
What's at stake?

4 C's (to be used as indications of good rhythm for a scene or story)
Crisis
Conflict
Climax
Consequence

Luke from Star Wars is a good example:

4 W's (for the story over all, but you can/should do this for each scene)
What does the Luke want?
Luke wants to go off and have adventures with the Rebels.
Why does he want it?
Because he is discontent with life on Tatooine. Or because he wants to become a Jedi.
What's in the way?
He has no way off of the planet. His uncle won't let him leave.
What's at stake?
If Luke doesn't get off the planet, then he might be killed like his aunt and uncle. Also, Princess Lea will be killed, and the rebellion will fall apart.
(I'm not doing the best job at breaking this down, but hopefully you can get the idea).

4 C's (for a more specific part of the story)
Crisis
R2D2 runs away.
Conflict
Luke can't leave that night because of the sand people.
Climax
Luke and C3PO go out the next day to find R2D2 and get attacked by sand people.
Consequence
Luke is unconscious and C3PO is broken. (Don't worry, Obi-Wan shows up to save them in the next scene).

There is also Michael Hague's "Wound, Fear, Identity, Essence" (http://www.storymastery.com/articles/104-revealing-your-heros-wound-good-will-hunting), but I'm not as good at explaining it as he is.

Again, I just want to open up a discussion. I love working on interesting characters, and would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this. I personally found the fractalling system a bit too arduous to be of use to me personally since I like to find my characters within the framework of the story.
Author:  Faith_Blum [ April 13th, 2014, 6:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Alternatives to Character Fractalling
I love the sound of this. I am going to have to try it!
Author:  Rinothean [ April 18th, 2014, 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Alternatives to Character Fractalling
Wow, i just tried this, i have to reexamine what my character really wants, Having trouble getting an overall want.. :/


I certainly appreciate this thanks!.... :dieshappy: :dieshappy:
Author:  Andorin [ April 19th, 2014, 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Alternatives to Character Fractalling
Rinothean wrote:
Wow, i just tried this, i have to reexamine what my character really wants, Having trouble getting an overall want.. :/


I certainly appreciate this thanks!.... :dieshappy: :dieshappy:

Remember that the overall "want" or desire can shift slightly. Just be sure to keep a through line that makes sense.

I don't know if you've seen the movie "Gladiator". In that movie, the writer makes it very clear from start to finish that what Maximus wants is to be with his family. In the beginning this drives him to finish the war so he can go home. When his family dies, he doesn't really have a reason to live until he finds out he could go to Rome and possibly find a way to kill Commodus (the one who killed his family). At that point, what does Maximus want? He wants to find a way to kill Commodus and restore Rome to a republic because Marcus Aurelius asked him to before he died and everything fell apart. However, there are still moments peppered throughout that show Maximus is only fulfilling his obligations to Marcus so that he can feel free to die and go to the afterlife to see his wife and son again. Although the story took a lot of twists and turns, it was clear that Maximus's key desire was to be with his family.

I would strongly suggest watching a movie you really like and ask the 4 W's and 4 C's while you watch it. Feel free to pause the movie at the end of a scene to see if you can answer those questions. It helps to be able to identify them before you start to use them in your own story. Also, don't let these get in the way of your first draft. They are more of a way to examine what you have already written and make good changes that drive the story forward.
Author:  Rinothean [ April 19th, 2014, 5:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Alternatives to Character Fractalling
Thank Andorin, after I took an overall look at everything i managed to come up with something that i think works. It makes sense that the overall want shifts, as does my characters overall want does just a little, but in the end it drives her to achieve it.
Author:  Varon [ July 22nd, 2014, 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Alternatives to Character Fractalling
These are fantastic questions. Thank you. I'll have to go ask these of my WIP, since I'm at a few different roadblocks with it.
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