The Flat Character Arc | How does it work?

[@EllenBrock]

I finally finished the first flat arc video! It was a comedy of errors trying to get this video out, but a power outage, camera glitch, and new monitor later, it is finally ready! Please let me know if the additional graphics worked for you. Was it better, worse, or the same? Thanks! I truly hope this video helps. Let me know if anything is unclear so that I can address it in the next video. Hope you're all doing great!

[@Poisonedblade]

Thank you so much! Your videos are the best! I once had freelance work and the night before everything was due, I had hardware issues, software issues, microphone issues... I drove to the nearest Best Buy for a microphone and it had closed down that day. I ended up returning home and using a 10 year old microphone and duct tape. It worked, then the batteries in my mouse died. I made it to CVS a minute before they closed and got batteries. I was able to start working at 12:30am. Fun fun fun...

[@EllenBrock]

Oh my gosh! That sounds so stressful. It's wild how those strings of bad luck happen.

[@Poisonedblade]

@@EllenBrock I know, right? I'm usually prepared. Now I have an extra laptop, an extra monitor (3), 3 mice, 4 keyboards, batteries, and my condo has a backup generator. Most people would say this is excessive, but I've been through some sh*t. BUT... last week I had a video conference call. My laptop camera died, my old tablet was too old, my iTouch had a cracked screen, so I had to rush order a new camera. But this was nothing compared to that time I was Live on the Today Show and everything went wrong...

[@samfowler2073]

Did you anger a witch?

[@Petch85]

I am a big fan of good graphics, plots, lists, charts etc. Everything that helps making a point. But the monolog have to support the graphics, the graphics cannot stand alone. I think you did a great job. But I also have seen all the movies but Paddington thus it might have been easier for me to follow along just for that reason. I also know that making good graphics takes a lot of time, especially when you are developing a new stile that you have not used before. Over time you can build up templates, scenes, a collection of memes and procedures that will make it much faster to get the same look from video to video. Also some people are get motivation by making graphics and others find it to bee hard work. So try to love making graphics and make the work fun if you can. 🙂

[@Iwasonceanonionwithnolayers]

You have no idea how much the added graphics help. Not only do they help me focus, but being able to read a summary of what you're talking about helps me understand and retain the information.

[@augustodenkirk947]

Valuable information as always from the #1 youtube channel for aspiring authors. The pictures really help as well. Nice touch. Looking forward to the second video!

[@EllenBrock]

Thanks for letting me know the pictures helped!

[@chris.awilliams7138]

I think you hit the nail on the head here, that the 'flat character arc' is about how the characters around the 'flat character' change, as the world learns the moral lesson they embody. The character's lowest-point/apparent-defeat will usually be them doubting themself and or their ability to change the world around them. Also note that while these stories may not alwyas be tonally light, they are never 'grimdark' or 'gritty realistic', largely because such inflexible people rarley exist and even more rarely are able to achieve anything (arguably, a negative-flat charatcer may seem realistic as the protagonist of such a story, where there negative trait provides them with some, ruthless advantage for which they are consistantly able to avoid punishment.) Another commenter mentioned that the super-hero genre makes a lot of use of this type of character (think superman), but I'd argue that this character type is most common in the murder-mystery genre up until the 2010s. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Morse, Maigret, Columbo, Dr Sloane, Inspector Barnaby; the list goes on... any one of these characters, after dozens or of hours of screen-time barely changes. As examples, they don't stop being proud or grumpy, don't stop taking drugs or don't start habits or adopt personality traits which go over episode-to-episode (they also don't tend to have [living] marital partners or children, but that's another discussion). They learn 'things' which tend to be the facts that they need to solve the case, while the people around them (and the audience) learn about the wicked things other people can do to each-other and how this benefits no-one, they also learn the value of uncovering truth and often the value of methodological/scientific investigation (especially for Holmes). Most episodes will involve them sitting down and looking tired/desperate and saying that they will take a brief rest from investigating which serves as the apparent-defeat, they may even go so far as to say they know who did it but believe they can't prove it.

[@pamelaabdou9069]

Dear Ellen, I consider your channel as my creative writing class. One day when I am good enough I will mail you my work. Thank you so much for just being here. I wish if we can see you more often, or communicate our inquiries.

[@Wayfarer889]

You are such a fantastic teacher. Thank you for sharing your gifts, despite the setbacks you face.❤

[@VinnyTheory]

Idk if this would stress you out too much Ellen but with longer videos I think a lot of viewers like the timestamp sections so that they can click over to what they specifically need. I was a KZbinr myself so I know it kinda sucks having to scroll through your own video and type the timestamps but I noticed viewership always goes way up because if someone gets bored they just scroll to the next section instead of clicking off if that makes sense. Anyway hope this helps I owe you my life!

[@asteven8]

Thank you for this! I've become deeply fascinated by flat arc characters as of late. I think sometimes they can be overlooked and underappreciated (by some) especially as a main protagonist.

[@EllenBrock]

I totally agree! I think they have fallen out of favor. It was difficult to find recent examples. Maybe you can write a good one for us!

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Wouldn't John Wick be an example? More broadly though, I think it's because the character has to be male and that's been done to death. If the character is female the whole internet will pile on them as a "strong female character."

[@gsimon123]

Interview With A Vampire is a good example of a great flat character - Tom Cruise's character is the same character in the final scene as he was the whole movie. He's just updated with the times. Or The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. That's a great example of THREE characters who essentially are ALL flat characters - but they reached the inevitable conclusion of all their stories overlapping.

[@fredihayes6391]

Immediately likes and watches

[@RandomJayne]

When I think of Flat Arcs I immediately think of superhero comics because, outside of origin stories or storylines that are meant to change a hero into a villain or an anti-hero or an anti-hero or villain into a hero, most of the stories are going to be about the hero acting as a role model and being challenged on their beliefs but holding to them. Superman or Batman might be challenged on their no-kill rules or not using their power to take over the world to enforce their values, but they always come out reaffirming why they stick to those beliefs and don't cross those lines. Another good example would be episodic comedy series where the humor is largely derived from characters having flaws and opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth but never being able to overcome those flaws or learn those lessons in order to maintain the status quo. Seinfeld's characters can never make a relationship work because they cannot be sincere or emotionally open or overcome their shallowness and selfishness. Every time they approach an epiphany and consider changing their behavior, they always end up sliding back into their old habits. In Invader Zim, Zim and Dib can never get over their core belief that they need to prove themselves to other people. So even when Zim finds out his mission is fake in the movie he still pursues it in an attempt to impress his leaders while Dib is told outright that he doesn't need to prove anything to his father, but we see in comics following the movie that he still feels that he needs to make his dad come around and admit that he's right and impress him with his accomplishments. In Arrested Development, Michael Bluth can never escape his toxic family because every time he tries to cut and run, he gets roped into coming back.

[@kristopherhayes1957]

That is a very interesting perspective. I suppose I need to consider this whenever I do my writing. Do you have any advice for doing this in a story?

[@davidcave5426]

Related to this are the older hero stories, the ones in which the hero comes in to save the day for the victim or town, depending on the plot. Heroes like The Lone Ranger, Knight Rider, James Bond, etc. The heroes don't change but the town or victim learns a lesson. Another one that's a good example is The Prisoner from the 1960s. The protagonist doesn't change throughout the series, but the Village changes its mind about him and "sets him free".

[@raven-sf3di]

The truth the hero believes can be about their own power or what they have been taught . The test brings their powers and abilities into question . The manga food wars, the main character believes in his experimental cooking often showing up people who believe in the perfect way to cook

[@laurenbernstein621]

This was a really useful video - I like character driven stories and talking about how different characters, not just the protagonist, have arcs and how those arcs interact was really insightful

[@stainshen5696]

I've been waiting for this video so much! Under the influence of chinese novels, like Heaven Officials Blessings and other MXTX works, I have become very interested in this character type Even though in the flashbacks the characters there do have a positive or negative arc, in the main timeline the arc is flat Have not watched the video yet, but am sure that I'm going to play it multiple times, as almost everything on this channel ❤

[@ibgh0549]

You alive!! So long since I’ve seen you posting new videos!

[@VinnyTheory]

I’m honored to watch a new video of Ellen’s. Got here like a month or 2 ago. I think I’ve watched every video

[@AlbaPoulzen]

I would love a video about direct and indirect dialogue and how to use them. 🌺

[@Jbwriting]

Brilliantly explained!

[@WahresIchTV]

You inspire me to frame my teachings as a life-coach in a new way now. The character arcs and how they play out in films, plays and novels can be so helpful for my clients to look at their own lives through that particular lense offered through fiction. I already included bits and pieces, but now I see I can do a much better job at this. Thank you from Germany, Ellen.

[@jamessherrell904]

Thank you so much for this! It really helps me understand and describe my love for characters who are sometimes dismissed as Mary Sues. So insightful.

[@Petch85]

I really like "talking about story telling" on this channel. It is like watching music theory videos (another hobby of mine). So thank you for making them. I have seen a lot of movies and tv shows both blokbusters, bollywood, french, anime and nordic. And I like watching something that is a little out there and many not for everyone. I like fast dum action movies and slow philosophic talking movies. Don't missunderstand me I don't love all stories, in fact I will consider myself very picky and videos like yours helps me understand why I like Harry Potter (or LOTR) and not Fantastic Beasts (The Hobbit), but even after seeing plenty of videos about storytelling and movie making it is still hard for me to make a coherent argument for or against a movie, thus most of the time I stick to "don't waste your time", "it is ok" and "I love it" when asked. When recommending something I usually just name other movies that I think are similar enough, and if they like them, then I recommend it. But that also means that for some movies and series I don't recommend them to people that have not watched a lot of movies, even though I loved the show/movie. Like I am not going to recommend Neon Genesis Evangelion to someone that has only seen Pokémon as there only Anime, even if they loved The Matrix and 2001: a space odyssey. I would probably try a "gait way drog" like psycho-pass first (It is also a master peace [It is not without faults, but season 1 is really good], but much easier to enjoy, I think). Thus I am always trying to improve my understanding of story telling, just to understand my own taste in stories better the same way as I am trying to understand my taste in music better. It might just help me find something new to love. Lately I been thinking about "Frieren: beyond journey's end". I love that show, but I don't understand why I love it so much. I like the philosophy about life and time, and how we spend out time. I think the dub is well made, the drawings are great (or good enough for the story to shine through). The show is both very compact, fast and slow at the same time. I find the correctors are interesting and well written, but it does not feel like something I have seen before. Although I could name plenty af anime series that basically doe the same thing, no of them feels quiet the same. It feels a little like LOTR mixed with studio ghibli (think something like My Neighbor Totoro). I would love a video about the storytelling methods used in Frieren, maybe it is very simple and just well done, but it honestly feels new to me. I would recommend everyone to watch the first 3 episodes, it is only one hour (maybe 4 if you want more plot setup, but I think the first 3 are the most important episodes to understand the series.) It is an easy watch, very wholesome, maybe a little sad but it does not feel like work watching is 😂. It is not for children, not that there is extreme violence or sex or anything, I just think you need to be an adult or an young adult to be interested in the story. But forsure some kids will probably also love it. Just as some kids love LOTR, even though I would say the story is best for adults. Sorry that got way too long. You video must have made me thing a little too much. 😂

[@TheGinnyhp]

Loved the video. You always make me smile.

[@EllenBrock]

😊 Awww, thank you!

[@nanochan1168]

I am so grateful for your work.. thanks a lot

[@JuliaChiarelli]

Interesting. I have a story in my head and I was thinking about the character arc , never thought the flat arc existed. I guess I'll try and see what happens! Thank you! Excellent video!

[@Tunality]

Wonderful lesson and very easy to understand, in-depth story examples! Like legitimately super helpful. Fascinating that a character with a flat character arc can still learn and grow as characters themselves. That it is their strong core belief that helps them overcome their challenges while propelling the story forward. For the longest time I thought the only kind of story arc available was the kind where a character has that negative/“wrong” belief and has to progress to the positive one. This video helped me recognize there are lots of great stories that function well outside that dynamic! Like I think I understand now that alot of common anime/mange protagonists are generally flat characters, to a degree, at least at they are at the beginning of their stories. And it’s through this cycle of their core belief being challenged and them reaffirming their beliefs over and over again that the character themselves gets stronger and the story moves forward. At least I think that’s what happening there haha. The volleyball anime, Haikyuu, the main protagonist Hinata has this unfailing goal to become a “little giant”, a professional volleyball player despite his height and he 100% believes he will get there. I would have never though of his story arc as being flat before because it seemed like he was always learning and growing. But it’s often Hinata’s focus on his goal and his boundless energy and enthusiasm that inspires his teammates to grow and learn and helps them overcome tough opponents. While Hinata’s technical skills and understanding of the difficulty of attaining his goal does change, his belief in himself never does, just like Elle. Fascinating! Thank you for the awesome video and can’t wait for the next one about how this type of flat arc interacts with story structures!!

[@alexanderdurig4474]

Thank you - superbly done!

[@dragonchr15]

thanks for explaining why you use movies instead of novels

[@sally3559]

As always, very informative video, well and undertsandable presented. Love your content. One day you will have a million subscribers 🥰

[@NataliaKaravaeva-n2i]

Another fantastic video! Very informative and clear explanations, thank you! Always recommend your videos to my editing clients:) PS: Additional graphics are a super nice touch too.

[@thehomelessteddycomics3346]

Very informative. You should look for author Stacy James Meadows. Great video and interesting insights. ❤

[@joesjoeys]

Cant wait til I can get around to this video Ellen! Always love your content!

[@JWClementAuthor]

Amazing and well explained concepts as always. Thank you!

[@DesOttsel]

Oo, I’m excited for the next part. I’m about 85% done with a U shaped flat character arc.

[@Hurlburton]

I was just watching one of your videos yesterday Thought maybe you disappeared Welcome back Enjoy your videos

[@EllenBrock]

I suffer from intermittent severe fatigue which is why I seem to disappear from time to time. Thanks for watching!

[@Writing4Jesus247]

🎉you're amazing!!! I loved this so much. I understand how movies flow and certain but you describing it helps me understand the pieces of the puzzle and how the "science" of it all works in story telling😊❤Thank you! God bless

[@fivesilvercoins]

Maybe it's simply because I've mostly studied creative writing in Swedish and we use different terms, (i honestly don't remember for sure,) but I've never encountered the term flat-arc character before. I've always thought of them loosely as 'enlightened' or 'prophet' characters. I never really thought about their negative counterparts before, very interesting as always! Edit: I like the images on screen, they helped me follow! It was a while ago I watched Legally Blonde etc., so it's good to be reminded of which character is called what, if nothing else.

[@RachelASmith1990]

When I was in school, I was taught to refer to these characters as "static" characters.

[@Casie5643]

Thank you so much! Can't wait to watch the next video ❤

[@NotMolly-jf2rh]

I am so glad to see you!

[@zacksheidler]

thanx so much. in watching this I realize many of my favorite stories have flat ark main characters. when I write I find my self doubting the advice about character ark because it seems to interfere with the "Character" of my main character. I suspect if I look back at my writing many of my stories will have flat ark lead characters.

[@samhawkins4952]

I click on your channel every day to see if you uploade anything new!! :D I'd be really interested in a video analyzing the beats of a developing friendship/romance, do you think you'll ever make a video about something that?

[@Scott85619]

Please can you make a video on writing sub plots?

[@mlbullbooks]

Cool concept for flat characters. 👍🦋

[@rachelthompson9324]

excellent presentation and your hair looks good too!

[@JROtoons]

Hey, can you make a video explaining the types of readers that there are, in general.

[@netghost07]

The way you move your eyebrows is exceptionally cute.

[@haveforkwillspoon]

Very useful.

[@PomaiKajiyama]

I've always thought that a Flat Character Arc referred to one of the Arc's that everyone around them goes through as they interact with the Flat Character, since someone/something needs to change and it ain't the main character. Also, despite the misjudgment of value for Flat Characters as "boring", they still end up being the most popular main characters in fiction, because they get to the core fantasy of the world changing for you and not the other way around.

[@wehrmacher]

Let me begin by saying I find you and your videos fascinating and can't imagine anyone with whom I'd rather share a cup of coffee. That said, I often find things in my writing about which you've discussed in your videos -- but I didn't set out to design and include them. I'm a pantser and just try to write something I'd find entertaining. I wonder if you make an effort to pull out the structures you describe while you are reading something 'just for fun'? Do you think the authors of the movies you referenced sat down and designed character arcs etc, then wrote their stories? I get the feeling that programs, or editors, that analyze stories spend hours digging out things the things the author didn't intentionally include or those story features just matched in, uninvited like characters so often do? For example, I got an AI based story analyzer and used it to analyze a story I'd written. It gave me a 120 page analysis of a 20 page story. I understood everything it told me but didn't see how implementing all its suggestions would improve the story--it would certainly change the story but would it improve it; would it make the reader more likely to give it five stars instead of three? I'm sorry, this has gone on and on. Again, I really love your videos. I'll say goodbye for now, stay safe and healthy, and keep writing. 😊

[@philhack4317]

Am I right in thinking that pretty much all Quentin Tarantino characters have a flat character arc? The only character created by Tarantino that I can think of, who has a deep significant change, off the top of my head, is Jules from Pulp Fiction.

[@hyleore]

I might have to go rewatch Legally Blonde after this...

[@ichbifeuertrunk]

Great!

[@AuthorGuy1]

Would it be possible for a flat-arc character to go from one belief to another that is equally flat?

[@raven-sf3di]

A flat story arc is about the main character's beliefs being tested . You should be able to test different beliefs as the main plot and side plot . Your main plot can be about crazy experimental cooking . And your sub arc could be about the power of friendship etc etc.

[@ihaveaname699]

YESSSSSS FLAT ARC

[@booksfellover]

Amelie is a good flat arc film

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

A lot of these seem to fall into the Blake Snyder "Institutionalized" story style. Do you ever think about that "genre" list as an editor?

[@milesparker557]

Elle Woods from Legally Blonde is one of my favorite protagonists. A big part of that is her flat arc.

[@EllenBrock]

She's great!

[@notimeforthis20]

yay!!

[@BloodlightRadio]

By chance, is there anything that closely resembles a flat character arc for most of the story, but subverts it at the end (maybe, a tragic flat character arc?)

[@BloodlightRadio]

I know it's kind of a weird question; I'm finishing a novelette where the results of MC's actions over the story 'successfully' alters the deuteragonist's core belief (for better/worse up to interpretation), almost immediately after the results of the deuteragonist's actions over the story finally change the MC's (for the better). I'm not using a traditional story structure, but a lot of this video feels really relevant- definitely watching it several more times!!

[@5idi]

You mean like the "bad guys" in superhero stories that don't change and it ends bad for them?

[@5idi]

What you've described sounds like a less traditional but still positive arc.

[@BloodlightRadio]

@@5idi I don't watch a whole lot of superhero movies, but if you recommendations I will definitely look them up! Are there any where the superhero realizes the villain they've been working against has actually been right the whole time about X systemic bad thing, but the villain shows up and turns in the towel before the hero does anything with that knowledge? The hero learns some moral lesson related to X and removes the villainous threat, but the systemic problem is still there and the villain will deal with the hero's mistake for the rest of their life.

[@BloodlightRadio]

Also, in the above scenario, regarding the original question, it would be for conceptualizing the villain's (deuteragonist's) arc.

[@Poisonedblade]

Wow, what would Gotham be like if The Joker had the arc of The Grinch?

[@Maudsunday]

I love you!

[@PeterMacansky]

[@TheCaptain610]

When you let down your hair, you go from a professor to Rob Zombie!

[@SuperBeanson]

Unfortunately, your focus on examples from film does no justice to the idea of 'flat-arc' (or more properly: 'competent protagonist'). You should really be looking at: Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, Conan, etc. Your 'flat-arc' examples are generally one shot standalones. The great benefit of a 'competent protag' consists in ease of sequel