Frost/Nixon is an epic battle between two Power of Ambition characters.
Continue readingDavid Frost & Richard Nixon – Power of Ambition
Subtext – Unspoken Communication
The subtext of a scene is the underlying emotion that changes or alters the meaning of the words spoken or the actions taken. Or it is what is “under the skin of a character.” Or it is what is under the surface of what a character says or does.
Continue readingEinstein and Writing
#ThinkpieceThursday – Einsten’s concise quotes are invaluable and timeless.
Continue readingMad Men – Art vs Commerce
Mad Men has had wide-spread critical acclaim, won numerous awards and has become a cultural reference– but it has a very small audience. This struggle between art vs commerce and high brow vs low prestige mass entertainment is a dilemma writers and producers wrestle with continually.
Continue readingCreating a New Character: Backstory
#MondayMusings – What is your character’s backstory?
Continue readingCreating a New Character – Fear
It’s important to look at the ways the character is most worried about failing others and becoming unloved or unlovable. This often is traceable back to the character’s own childhood fears. These early fears powerfully stay with us and color our adult lives.
Continue readingFear in Politics, Life, and Storytelling
In my Character Map workshops I talk a lot about fear. This article from the Huffington Post makes a clear statements about fear in politics, everyday life and storytelling. It is a wonderful summary of the discussion of fear I have with my workshop participants.
Continue readingEquinoxe Germany
I’ve been at beautiful Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps. http://www.schloss-elmau.de/ It was a fabulous setting for the recent Equinoxe Germany workshop.
Continue readingBarack Obama – Three Factors of Character Type
I’ve written extensively on the differences in Character Type between John McCain and Barack Obama. Both candidates’ response to the recent American financial crisis is further revealing of all aspects of their Character Types.
Continue readingMcCain and Obama: Character Consistency in Storytelling
#ThinkpieceThursday – The Presidential election is an opportunity to see two Character Types play their roles on the world stage.
Continue readingJohn McCain – Three Factors of Character Type
The same tactics and approach can create totally dissimilar strengths and weaknesses, problems and opportunities because the two characters view the world so differently.
Continue readingNew Book With A Powerful Backstory
“I pressed the button on the phone and the first sound I heard in the headset was a child sobbing. She was barely able to speak, kept saying the same thing over and over…”I just want it to stop.” It was Monday morning 7.30 am. My very first call as a ChildLine volunteer counselor.
Continue readingValues at Stake – Film
The obstacles in a film or television series should create the kind of risk, peril or danger that pushes the character to take actions that define what is most fundamentally important or true in a character’s life.
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