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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Scarefest Script Club  /  SSC2WC Who's your protagonist?
Posted by: Zack, February 15th, 2017, 2:57am
Who is your protagonist for your story? What are their motivations and goals? Why should we care about them?

Told you, guys. Discussion was part of this 2WC. :P ;D

~Zack~
Posted by: Female Gaze, February 15th, 2017, 8:36pm; Reply: 1
Tryna Bagsly: the young second wife to Richard Bagsly. She is guarded, insecure, and has a deep desire to want to belong.

G - To be a part of her new neighborhoods all female bridge club.  

O - Richard is very demanding of Tryna and her insecurities cause her act rash at times.

T - To take part in her neighbors annual key party. She wants to make headway with the bridge club leader, Rebecca.

E -  To make a good first impression and finally belong, even if that means doing unorthodox things.


This is called a GOTE sheet in case anyone was wondering. I used to have to use this when reading scripts and analyzing the character I was playing. It helps.

G (Goal), O (Obstacle), T (Tactic), E (Expectation)
Posted by: Zack, February 15th, 2017, 9:49pm; Reply: 2
Never heard of a GOTE sheet. Seems like it could be helpful. It's put a picture of your protagonist in my head. Interesting, Ashlie.

~Zack~
Posted by: Female Gaze, February 15th, 2017, 10:11pm; Reply: 3

Quoted from Zack
Never heard of a GOTE sheet. Seems like it could be helpful. It's has put a picture of your protagonist in my head. Interesting, Ashlie.

~Zack~



Yeah. It's mostly used by actors but I found it useful for when I directed as well. It can work here also. I go so far as to have questions about my characters to answer for myself.

Like what's their favorite color?

Tryna's is violet like her grandmother's eyes.

What kind of music do they enjoy and why?

Billy Joel all the way!

Car? Yes or no?

She can drive when she's allowed and only during the day.

It's weird but it helps you get intimate with the character.

Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 16th, 2017, 10:11am; Reply: 4
I'm thinking of resurrecting Ian Pitt and Dr. Orton Smith as my two lead Protags.

Ian Pitt is a great force and a great man.  He has died several times - actually he has died in all 3 of the original Cabin series scripts, but has come back for each sequel, as he is a great force and is somehow able to cheat death, even when shot through the neck with an arrow and had his skull crushed by Elijah's giant axe.

Dr. Orton Smith is a doctor, who works at the mental house.  He once sent Ian there by lying about his mental health, but now he works with Ian to hunt down and kill the remaining cannibals.  He has been referred to as a quack, but he did do some doctor stuff to determine Ian was actually alive in the last one.

I should also have Helen come back, as she was very popular (with all the male characters, that is).

That's all I can release at this time.  Over and out.
Posted by: AnthonyCawood, February 16th, 2017, 11:16am; Reply: 5
Protag!!!

Need an idea first!
Posted by: Zack, February 16th, 2017, 11:16am; Reply: 6
Well you have my interest, Jeff.

So these are pre-existing characters from a series you wrote in the past?

~Zack~
Posted by: MarkItZero, February 16th, 2017, 11:38am; Reply: 7

Quoted from Zack
Well you have my interest, Jeff.

So these are pre-existing characters from a series you wrote in the past?

~Zack~


I believe they are characters written in honor of the legendary Chris Halvorson. Too bad I wasn't around for those days. Feel like there's a lot of deleted posts in those threads I will sadly never get to read.
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 16th, 2017, 12:38pm; Reply: 8

Quoted from MarkItZero


I believe they are characters written in honor of the legendary Chris Halvorson. Too bad I wasn't around for those days. Feel like there's a lot of deleted posts in those threads I will sadly never get to read.


Yes!!!

I'm trying to find the original script, and having trouble,  ARGH!!!

I did write at least 2 sequels to the legendary "Chris Halverson's Cannibal" that also tied in characters and events from the also legendary "The Cabin", which I smartly downloaded years ago.  Why didn't I also download Chris' classic?

If anyone can find the original thread and script, please let me know!!!!

Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 16th, 2017, 1:33pm; Reply: 9
MarkitZero found the script and I am forever grateful.  You have made my day and I've been laughing out loud ever since.

This is gong to be epic...purely epic!!!!!!

Long live Ian, Dr. Smith, Helen, and of course, Elijah, the nerd, hermit cannibal!!!!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Posted by: CameronD, February 16th, 2017, 2:06pm; Reply: 10
I wanted to do this challenge when I heard about it then as my scheduled filled up I thought this would have to be the ball I dropped. But when I heard the category it reminded me a an old idea I've always had for a horror film that would be a great fit. So I might be back in.

As far as the protag goes, does that really matter as much as the antag in a horror film? I can count on one hand the number of main characters I remember from the hundreds of horror films I've seen.
Posted by: Zack, February 16th, 2017, 2:33pm; Reply: 11

Quoted from CameronD

As far as the protag goes, does that really matter as much as the antag in a horror film?


It does for this 2WC. :P

~Zack~
Posted by: MarkItZero, February 16th, 2017, 2:46pm; Reply: 12

Quoted from Dreamscale
Long live Ian, Dr. Smith, Helen, and of course, Elijah, the nerd, hermit cannibal!!!!


It will be almost impossible to recreate Chris' genius. But, if you do, you'll have a masterpiece.
Posted by: Dreamscale (Guest), February 16th, 2017, 3:58pm; Reply: 13

Quoted from MarkItZero


It will be almost impossible to recreate Chris' genius. But, if you do, you'll have a masterpiece.


Have you not read my 2 classic sequels?  Really?  C'mon man, give 'em some love and a boost up the old OWC thread.  More peeps need to know this stuff is out there when they're having a bad day.  It's impossible not to smile and then laugh out loud.  

Posted by: CameronD, February 16th, 2017, 5:05pm; Reply: 14

Quoted from Female Gaze
Tryna Bagsly: the young second wife to Richard Bagsly. She is guarded, insecure, and has a deep desire to want to belong.

G - To be a part of her new neighborhoods all female bridge club.  

O - Richard is very demanding of Tryna and her insecurities cause her act rash at times.

T - To take part in her neighbors annual key party. She wants to make headway with the bridge club leader, Rebecca.

E -  To make a good first impression and finally belong, even if that means doing unorthodox things.


This is called a GOTE sheet in case anyone was wondering. I used to have to use this when reading scripts and analyzing the character I was playing. It helps.

G (Goal), O (Obstacle), T (Tactic), E (Expectation)


That's a good analogy. I like that and may use it going forward. The hardest part is Tactic. It's easy to give your character a goal and throw obstacles in the way towards an outcome, but if your character isn't engaged and making choices to meet that goal then you're missing a key piece. Don't make them a bystander, they need to be an active participant in the story.
Posted by: ChrisBodily, February 17th, 2017, 5:09am; Reply: 15
Finally got around to writing today. (Thursday is always super busy for me!)

My protagonist is Victor Herman. Age 50. "Only the most powerful food critic in this state. A review from him is like a review from God."

G - To find out why the Stepford Burger doesn't taste like beef, or why the fries "don't taste like fries. They don't even taste like potatoes."

O - Mr. Stepford refuses to reveal his secret recipe, just like you'd have to pry the Krabby Patty secret formula from Mr. Krabs's cold, dead claws. (And even then, good luck.) "Oh, it's... meat."

T - Keep asking until "Is it beef, ham, pork, chicken, turkey? Human?" (Chortle) causes Mr. Stepford to tense up. He then takes Victor to the back room to talk privately. "You know too much."

E - Victor's expectation was simply to review Stepford's Burgers, good or bad. "McDonald's is cheaper. And I'm a food critic!"
Posted by: DanC, February 17th, 2017, 4:01pm; Reply: 16
Hmmm
    Okay, my protag is Fred.  He's a cop.  As a child, he accidentally imprisoned a monster.  

He chose to be a cop to protect people.  From monsters, but, not actual monsters.

His goals are to keep as many safe, as he can, at all times.

His obstacle is really just 1 thing.  The monster he accidentally locked up as a kid.  He has no idea how he did it.  

Tactic-  figure out what it is, and to kill it this time.

The expectation is to win, or die.  Or is death the worst???  I wrote a story a while back where death wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

Dan
Posted by: Digitaldecayfilms, February 17th, 2017, 4:05pm; Reply: 17
My protag is a man or woman who is forced fight against someone or something...

That's all I've got after week of brainstorming :(

Hopefully inspiration will strike this weekend.
Posted by: Steven, February 20th, 2017, 10:39am; Reply: 18
My protag is Patrick Bateman and the events will take place shortly after the heat revolving around the Paul Allen murder died down. He's moved past the seemingly random acts of killing, and now has a more insatiable taste - human meat. He's admitted to "trying a little" of his previous victims, but now that he's kept Allen's body in a freezer in his apartment, he's decided that since he's always getting confused for Allen anyway, he may as well consume the entirety of him.
Posted by: Conz, February 20th, 2017, 8:19pm; Reply: 19
Brad, a meek worker drone who got lucky at the bar with the wrong woman.  ... that's pretty much what i got so far.  

you guys are gonna hate this...
Posted by: Pale Yellow, February 20th, 2017, 9:00pm; Reply: 20
A mother. I think that is my protagonist. A mother with a autistic daughter who believes a monster will be coming for her because she is 'different'.
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