How Pro Screenwriters Create Characters

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Twitter: / ntjrdn
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Filmmakers featured in order of appearance:
00:00 Behind the Curtain
00:05 Billy Chew (The Death of Dick Long)**
02:18 Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917)
03:32 Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada)
04:37 Billy Chew (The Death of Dick Long)**
05:22 Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing)
05:35 Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad)
06:40 Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
06:50 Jonathan Hirschbein (A Prayer Before Dawn)**
07:46 Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Lady Bird)
08:16 Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing)
08:53 Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
09:19 Jim Uhls (Fight Club)**
11:07 Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
11:53 Jonathan Hirschbein (A Prayer Before Dawn)**
Non-Behind the Curtain sources: pastebin.com/HjViX1VB
ABOUT BEHIND THE CURTAIN
This channel is a way for me to share the best nuggets of knowledge for filmmakers I find. It's an attempt to take a look inside the greatest films and TV shows and learn from the creators themselves how they do what they do.
#screenwriting #characters #filmmaking

[@nlg070301]

That piece of advice from PTA about trying to write a scene for your character and seeing if they let you do it is just brilliant.

[@sociallyineptspider-man2366]

What I love so much about the advice on this channel is that it isn't solely useful for just movies, ive learned so much that's helped me with my graphic novel, it's universal advice that can help in any story telling medium

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, man! That means a lot. Good luck to you on your graphic novel.

[@dejavu2752]

..or just about any form of expression! I think it's widely applicable

[@Nobody-fb7ni]

Behind the Curtain It would be cool if you could expand to say books too. The Chuck Pahlaniuk stuff for “Fight Club” was really good. Maybe you could do George RR Martin, Stephen King, etc?

[@bdawk511]

It's helped me understand character as an actor as well. I love this channel haha

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Same! I'm doing a small-scale video game and these are so instrumental!

[@sookielloyd78]

"Doing interviews with the characters." Never thought about this but it makes so much sense!

[@TommyMcCubbin]

this blew my mind.

[@ShEDDiNgmYSkiN]

Love hearing my screenwriting heroes talk about their crafts. Thanks for these, has already helped my writing immensely.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Good to hear! That's what I'm trying to achieve with the Behind the Curtain channel and membership!

[@jonesjeremiah]

So it basically boils down to: have empathy!

[@ClankyOtter]

A true test for writers, and humanity alike

[@Dina8485]

This channel is hella slept on. Amazing that you can pull these quotes from these successful writers

[@AllThingsFilm1]

This is the first channel where I feel I'm getting into the heads of screenwriters. Hearing about their process is so informative and helpful. Subscribed.

[@Boise78]

Great channel. Found this last week and have been binge watching all the content. Keep em coming! THANKS!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Great to hear! Glad you're getting value from it.

[@ButtrNut32]

Another great video, congratulations. The fact that you've interviewed great writers is an inspiration in itself. This channel and LFTS I find are the best deconstructions of storytelling. Personally, I use the old adage of "make the plot simple, but the characters complex" it's served me greatly. I love the tidbit about hypocrisy and a very real dirty truth to it. Look forward to your future video and projects.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for the kind words. Taylor Sheridan is a writer who believes the same thing. All of his plots are some, so he can focus on character and theme.

[@portlandgoose4727]

Weird hearing that particular advice come from Jim Uhls, considering he didn’t even write Fight Club. The novel was written by Chuck Palanuik. Phenomenal screenwriting and advice, none the less.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

I really needed to hear that tip about hypocrisy! Thank you so much.

[@lorettabes4553]

Some of these things I've thought of, but most of the advice here is new to me. It's so amazing to hear these perspectives and learn from them.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Good! Listening to the people that are doing what you dream to do is the most valuable resource.

[@beccag1107]

Thank you so much for including female writers too!! You don't know how much we truly appreciate it, we have such a hard time getting representation in the film industry, so thank you for using your platform to elevate our voices as well.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

I know right!

[@fatshernandez4593]

sexism ends when you stop caring what genitals people have becca

[@brendanlorenzo7298]

I am so obsessed with your channel. Thank you for putting so much work into these videos, you’re an absolute gem!

[@sketchyppl]

This is the best I've heard on the subject for long time - thank you !

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching

[@CourtneyCoulson]

11:07- every bad fanfiction ever!

[@Tmb1995]

Really enjoy what you do and I benefit from it greatly. I’ve started watching a video before I begin a writing session to jump start me a bit. Thank you!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's really cool to hear! Glad it can get your creative brain churning. Thanks for watching.

[@waltermanson999]

Amazing !!! Very inspirational !

[@cine.te.philia3632]

Always coming up with great videos

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching!

[@squishedcockroach8579]

Your videos are incredible! Subscribed

[@Kishan_Baijnath]

Great video, as always. Thank you

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching.

[@simonh7025]

Just what I needed to hear, thank you

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Perfect. Thanks for watching!

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

The character interview part and the last part were FUCKING AWESOME

[@emfivethirty]

Amazing video!

[@morphetic_films]

This is really helpful, thank you.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching

[@ridleysingh3966]

Wow. Absolutely amazing!!!

[@lucassilvamiranda4694]

Your channel is one of the best on YT. Congrats.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thank you! I really appreciate that.

[@playgemji]

Smashing video! Thank you for inspiring writers around the world. Greetings from 🇧🇬 Bulgaria.

[@georgeg6036]

When the characters start to talk to you then you know you are headed in the right direction.

[@kevinhillary4057]

I really love this channel :’)

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Kevin! That's good to hear! Come say hi in the discord and we'll chat about films and writing.

[@TheCrankyDank]

I think it'd be cool to see a How They Wrote Avatar The Last Airbender. The show NOT the movie.

[@edifiedreader]

“There is no Avatar movie in Ba Sing Se.”

[@serugolino7867]

I know u wanna know about the show, but i can tell you about the movie. ok use ur imagination: they didn't even try

[@mybismark2945]

guys there is no film about avatar THAT THING NEVER HAPPAND 😐😐😐

[@cheesecakelasagna]

The movie writing is so bad and a blatant disservice to the original.

[@jamesbaxter5147]

@@edifiedreader You don’t need to brainwash me to believe that, I’ll do so of my own free will.

[@kennardsmithwatson4192]

This video is a gem!

[@pennyjane9906]

makes sense that jim uhls wrote fight club, the way he talks about "interviewing his characters" :D

[@j.walker6845]

Cheers, very informative

[@bryceb1889]

The greatest characters from any television show, are the Fishcers from Six Feet Under; literally my favorite show, because if one there’s one character you don’t like, than maybe there’s one that you do. And even the characters we don’t like are understandable and can be relatable; not only this, but Six Feet Under’s characters just feel real, genuine, and act like us. The viewer.

[@MsBob314]

The three most commercially successful here are Gerwig, Tarantino and Gilligan. Interesting the range of techniques. One thing in common is that they write the shit out of their screenplays, the one exception being Resevoir dogs, which was written in two weeks. I’ve written 30* scripts and gotten two features made. I’m def a structure guy.

[@sid_c2136]

This was beautiful. Especially when he described the 3 dimensionality of a character.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching!

[@dannyisthenewdaddy]

My character is 80% myself So I think my character will be good

[@rohansuri9613]

Can't thank you enough for all these videos.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

:)

[@TethnekaIsBack]

Krysty Wilson Cairns' advice is really good. I kinda do the same. I use to create a playlist in Spotify to get in the mood of the character like what would he listen to...

[@dragonstooth4223]

essentially get into bed with your characters, have a good romp then look through their underwear drawer. Or give them the buffolo bill treatment ... wear them like a skin and become them when creating them so they have a life of their own. Thinking of characters like this, I like to think we writers have a super power. We can peer into alternate dimensions and what we think is our imagination is actually another universe and we are watching the people we call characters. Each new iteration of a story is our minds jumping to another dimension and seeing another alternative universe for that character. we are super heroes :)

[@ShaneJoshua1980]

What bugs me is I have never had the example of the character literally talking to me. Has anyone had this at all. I always feel like I'm leading them.

[@elijahalbiston]

Same here. I think what's good about screenwriting is that, if the script is good enough, your characters will talk to you. You're laying the foundation of a "real person" so that an actor can simply step inside that and "live." If everything on paper seems enough like a character then all you need is for them to become three-dimensional.

[@BodyTrust]

I don't really know my characters until the second or third draft.

[@jeromebell1245]

Hi, please can you tell me what original source interview is the Charlie Kaufman stuff from? Especially the bit around 8mins 53 secs in your video where he talks about writing dialogue before he really knows what the characters would say? Thanks

[@baldur9591]

That background music is an excellent choice to end the video, Anyone know the name?

[@toonsandro]

Now I know how people who write first feel. I have infinite power now

[@amannagar1108]

Please make a separate video on JAMES CAMERON

[@mmafightcoach]

I don't need to create characters. I know enough real characters.

[@jonahsebin4692]

How do you not have a million followers??

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Haha, I'm working on it! Thanks for the love.

[@chadbaptiste4227]

Aaron Sorkin is the side of caution I err on.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

"Intention and Obstacle, baby!"

[@connorklebs6432]

What’s the background music?

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Who are the best film characters of all time? Tell me your thoughts on the official Discord server: discord.gg/xxTqXXd

[@djsugarpop_]

Walter White

[@malinhessedahl]

Love this video❤ keep up the Good work ❤📷🎥🎬😍🌎😎

[@waywardmind]

President Laura Roslin from Battlestar Galactica. She's righteous; she's a cheat. She's got a soft and empathetic side; she gains info in 15 seconds from a Cylon that Starbuck couldn't break and then ices his ass. She's hopeful; she despairs. She's selfless; she abandons her duties and falls into herself and her illness. Throughout the series, she grows and changes. You always understand her, her motivations, and her actions, but you don't always like her.

[@malinhessedahl]

Little women of Greta grewig 2019 , lady Bird 2017 , beautifull boy, Call me my your name , the greatese showman 2016 , Titanic 1997 , Colette , and many more diffrent movies❤❤❤❤

[@BehindtheCurtain]

@@djsugarpop_ One of the greatest for sure!

[@stephen1Oace]

Bottom line, it's the director that can make or break anything written.

[@brent2795]

I believe the Editor really has that power

[@hoopz5095]

@@brent2795 also editor*

[@healmeimhurt-.-]

Love

[@mybismark2945]

krysty wilson cairns irsh accent took me off gurad

[@papasmerc4498]

Background song?

[@infraredtoa9105]

I have my own way: I give my characters three positive qualities, and three negative ones. Boom. A character's born.

[@ufoash440]

But does that make a three-dimensional character though? Can the people you know in real life be boiled down to three positive qualities and three negative ones? I'd say it's hard to make some simple labels develop into realistic characters

[@chaeyoungvideos5742]

is this reuploaded because of the greta audio?

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Yeah. Should be all set now!

[@mr.phillips]

Why I came back

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

Making them a hypocrite is great advice

[@leeluv4176]

Can you do lady bird?

[@sliceoflife11]

Is there an example where all the characters are three dimensional?

[@keokihiga8462]

I think the Wire would be the closest

[@vanntitrises2715]

House md please

[@malinhessedahl]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, Malin!

[@vladimirhorowitz]

I like how the guy seamlessly goes from "antagonists" to "villains" to "far-right conspiracy theorists." Clearly a diehard Trump voter.

[@formulaic78]

Character depth is overrated. Indiana Jones is a professor who dons a fedora and a whip and cracks one liners. Wonderful character but pretty 2D. Any greater depth he has was brought in during the telling of the stories.

[@curtisnewton895]

jee all these movies are terrible examples, they are horrendously boring

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

They're not boring, you simply just have no taste.

[@briamusic1845]

All these movies are so different tho how can you find them all boring