When I'm starting a new project, I try to list all the characters out just to see who I think will be in the narrative. Then, I try to break down who they are and why they should be there. In order to do that, I wind up using a lot of archetypes, or standard ideas of who these people can be, and then I personalize them. But what is an archetype, and how can you use them in your own writing? Let's dive in. Archetype DefinitionIn film and television, an archetype is a kind of character that appears across different stories and cultures. It's a universal representation of a pillar of human nature. Why Use Archetypes? You’ve written some great character descriptions and great character names, but how do you develop a great character? I use archetypes to look at these standard pillars of human nature, and then I break them down and personalize them, to create characters that pop off the page. I think to think of them as the blank forms we imbue with the ideas we have about characters and characterization.Basically, they're broad-stroke headings that refer to the kinds of characters in stories or screenplays. I love using these molds to help me learn about expected outcomes or tropes. But also I like to lean into certain qualities presented to format parts of the story I'm working on telling. I think they are useful tools to help inspire and breathe life into the people on your pages.The...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 2 days ago