The document provides notes on building characters for film. It discusses showing a character's desires and how they overcome obstacles, which can create empathy for the audience. Traits like humility and honesty can make a character more likable. As the film progresses, the character's decisions and sacrifices help reveal their personality. An opposing character can help distinguish the protagonist from the antagonist. The document also notes using a limited point of view to follow the story through the protagonist's eyes.

1. BUILDING A CHARACTER
When researching methods of building characters, I watched videos from youtube called
“Lessons from the Screenplay” as we'll as screenplay writer, Aaron Sorkin. I made notes on their
views about characters in film as well as their own ways on creating their own characters.
Aaron Sorkin’s Notes:
● Rather than telling the audience who the character is, show them what they want. (Desire >
Intention)
● Present an obstacle. The way in which the character goes about overcoming the obstacle
define the characters true nature.
● Creating a motivated character can create empathy between the audience and the
character
● A sympathetic character has a great bond with the audience. With qualities such as humility,
generosity, honesty, gratitude and commitment, it can make the character more likeable.

2. ● In order to present these character traits visually, the desire
of the characters can be shown on screen and the audience
can use this in order to interpret their personality.
● As a film progresses, the characters personality is presented
through their decisions in order to obtain their desire. Their
opportunity costs are also shown throughout the narrative
(sacrifices and risks).
● The end result is not as important as the audience
understand the decisions made by character in order to
reach the end result.
● Opposing character can make it clear to distinguish who the
protagonist and antagonist are.
● I brainstormed opposing character traits that could be used
in my narrative.

3. LESSONS FROM THE SCREENPLAY NOTES:
● Limited point of view: The audience can only see what the
protagonist/antagonist sees and learns what they learn. The audience
progresses through the narrative with the character. (Example > Fight
club)
● Omniscient point of view: The audience looks through other characters’
perspectives so they witness all events unfolding (Example > The Dark
Knight)
The characters with opposing personalities can be very one dimensional, a
relationship between the characters can be created in order to create
hesitation. It adds another element to the narrative.
PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST

4. PROTAGONIS
T
ANTAGONIST
FRIENDS
MARRIED
FAMILY
ASSOCIATES
MENTOS/APPRENTICE

5. CONSTRUCTING OUR PROTAGONIST
● Emily will be the main character in my short film. I plan to
use a limited point of view for the narrative so that the
audience are able to follow through Emily’s perspective. By
doing this I will be encouraging enigma codes for the
audience.
● Emily will be a young innocent girl with an opposing
character who may be the antagonist.
● She will be texting another guy which will allow me to add
iphone animation like my target audience suggested in my
survey.
● Possible differences : Nice vs Evil, innocent vs rebellious,
young vs old.