Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you are introduced to character development. You will create dynamic characters through questioning strategies, research, interview, and acting techniques. You will understand the process of a character and how creating a character is a building block for writing a successful script.
Objectives & Goals
- Analyze character development through observation.
- Identify characteristics of protagonist and antagonist.
- Create a character and develop character traits to give character purpose.
- Evaluate characters journey with story structure.
- Review, edit and revise treatment.
Step 1- Write & Reflect:
Use the following handout to capture ideas
- Complete the Character Development Reflection below in your online portfolio. Copy and paste questions then respond using complete thoughts and sentences. Label this post “Warm Up-Character” (5 minutes)
- Think about the main characters in a movie that you have recently seen. Who are they?
- What were their individual objectives? In other words, what do they want more than anything?
- What were their obstacles? What kinds of things are standing in their way of meeting their objectives?
- How did your characters relate to each other? Did they support each other? Did they fight against each other?
- Watch: Watch the short film provided by your teacher. For this year, we are watching https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/09/07/claressa/
- Discuss: With your elbow partner, discuss the following questions. Be prepared to present your solutions.
- Who is the main character?
- What is their objective?
- What is their obstacle?
- How do you think they overcome their obstacle? (2 minutes)
- Instruct: Watch the following video on Character.
- Apply: Identify the protagonist and antagonist from the film you discussed in the Warm Up- Character
Step 2- Protagonist Creation – 15 minutes
You will develop a protagonist for your 10-page script. Use the next 10 minutes to brainstorm. Think about your story’s Subject and Structure created in the first lesson. In this activity, you will define your protagonist. Who is your protagonist? List five beliefs that define your protagonist. What physical, social, or emotional characteristics or experiences make them interesting? What is the overall objective for your protagonist? What do they want more than anything? Be specific.
Create a post in your online portfolio and title it “Protagonist Creation” . Include a one paragraph explanation defining your protagonist. Be sure to address the questions above.
Step 3- 101 Questions – 40 minutes total (20 minutes for each partner)
Obtain the Student Worksheet_ 101 Questions from your instructor. For this activity, work with one partner. Partner A will assume the role of their selected protagonist. They will make believe that they are their protagonist. They will speak in the voice of who they imagine their protagonist to be. Partner B will use the “101 Questions_ Character Development” worksheet to interview Partner A. Partner B will also be responsible for recording written answers while interviewing Partner A. After 20 minutes, switch.
Homework! Complete the 101 questions worksheet at home for homework and submit tomorrow.
Step 4- Create your Character Profile Page ( 20 minutes)
Obtain a Character Profile handout from your instructor.
Now that you have interviewed as your protagonist, create a character profile page using the worksheet above. Include statistics, a full sketch, character emotional development plotline, dramatic action plotline, and a one page biography written in first person. Scan this or take a picture and upload as a link to your online portfolio post on “Protagonist Creation” . Use Google Docs to upload the file and create a link by sharing.
Step 5- Deconstruction of Character ( 60 minutes)
This activity connects character to story. You will deconstruct their protagonist and assess if the journey of the protagonist is aligned to their story.
- Begin by watching the 5-minute introduction video titled, “Deconstruction of Character Introduction”.
- Obtain the graphic organizers (Deconstruction of Character)from your instructor.
- After completing the graphic organizers, answer the following questions:
- How does the protagonist change?
- Is the overall objective for the protagonist visible throughout the entire story?
- How will the story structure support the characters overall objective?
- Evaluate your story and determine what changes need to be made so that the story structure correlates with the journey of the protagonist.
- Rewrite your story (treatment) from Lesson 1 or make the necessary corrections according to character their character needs.
- Submit the rewrite to online portfolio.
Assessment- Portfolio Submission -Character and Story Analysis
Using the Deconstruction of Character worksheet, breakdown the protagonist from a current/past film such as “The Color Purple”, “Thirteen”, “The Life of Pi”, “Doubt”, “Amelie”, “Slumdog Millionaire”, “The Machinist”, or ” Rocky” for your online portfolio. Label this as a work submission for their portfolio and title it,”Assessment Character and Story Analysis”.
Then, write a one-page reflection on the following: How does character relate to story? Be sure to discuss character objectives, characters journey through conflict, and story structure. Submit this reflection to portfolio.
Moving On!
Now that you have completed the lesson along with the assessment and submitted all of your artifacts along with objective and reflections to your online portfolio, you may successfully proceed to the next lesson in the unit which is LESSON #3- CHARACTER DIALOGUE-CREATING VOICE. Congratulations on completing the second lesson!
Posted in your portfolio from this lesson-
- “Warm Up-Character” – 100 points
- “Protagonist Creation” w/ Profile link (objective and reflection) -400 points
- Rewrite of Treatment (Objective and Reflection)- 500 points
- Assessment: Character and Story Analysis- 1000 points
Filmmaking 1 