At the center of many genres of movies and TV shows are two characters battling it out. It's the core of conflict. It started at the dawn of storytelling, and it hasn't really changed over time, we've just added wrinkles. Today, I want to explore the idea of protagonists versus antagonists and dig into what it means, and how you can get the most out of your storytelling. Let's dive in. What is a Protagonist?The word comes from the Ancient Greek, protagonistes. It literally means, “the one who plays the first part.” The opposite of a protagonist is an antagonist.Many movies and TV shows have a sympathetic protagonist (or a false protagonist) but it doesn’t always have to be that way. While the strict definition refers to the leading character in a story, we don’t always have a singular lead character. Sometimes, with ensemble movies, we have several leads we’re following.Whatever the case, people are tuning in to see the fate of this character(s). The story should show us their strengths, weaknesses, and arcs.What is an Antagonist?The word antagonist comes from the Greek word, “antagonistes.” That roughly translates into “opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, rival.” It's the opposite of the protagonist.Consider how those words we used to describe them aren't all unfriendly. A competitor or rival can simply push you to be better than you are.For the most part, the antagonist is the person or obstacle standing in the way of the protagonist.Protagonist vs. AntagonistAt the center of any kind of...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 2 days ago