By: Joe Forrest

Joe Forrest — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:22:30 +0000

In reply to Pat Borg.

Hi Pat,

From what you have said about your story, it sounds like your “young likeable rogue” is your protagonist. For one thing you have said he is likeable, and so I am assuming you want your audience on his side and routing for him.
Look for examples in films you like where the protagonist/hero is a bad guy who turns good.
The other character you mention, who mentors the rogue, is just that – a mentor. The obvious example is Yoda in Star Wars.

So to clarify, it sounds like you have a protagonist, and a mentor. Your antagonist is the character who stops the rogue getting what he wants. This might be one big bad guy, or several smaller characters. Just make sure you make it difficult for the rogue to get what he wants.

By: Pat Borg

Pat Borg — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:16:16 +0000

Hi Joe, this screenwriting business is damn hard, as you know only to well i was watching Bridge on Madison County last night and had the script on the other screen. It makes you realize just how long a film really is , at least if you are the writer. It seemed to take for ever. I have a question for you because i am new to this. If i have a young likable rogue a hoodie type who has an accident and because of that he becomes a different person a good kid later in the film is he a protagonist or an antagonist as he raises money at the end of the film for a charity. There is also another character who trys to mentor him and finally manages to do so. So are there two heros or two protagonists or one antagonist the boy and one protagonist the man… It may seem simple to you the answer but it is very confusing to me. I also wondered if you could mention any worthwhile boks

Best wishes for your future

Comments on: Character Change vs. Revelation

By: Joe Forrest

By: Pat Borg