{"product_id":"writing-the-cinematic-protagonist-how-to-create-memorable-multi-dimensional-lead-characters","title":"Writing the Cinematic Protagonist: How to Create Memorable, Multi-Dimensional Lead Characters","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42C2CB; font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"http:\/\/admin.stage32.com\/vendor\/moxiemanager\/data\/uploads\/15.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"158\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42C2CB; font-size: 14pt;\"\u003eQuick, name your 5 favorite movies of all time. Chances are they are all encompass different genres and various worlds and journeys. But likely, they all have one thing in common:  A memorable and multi-dimensional protagonist. Writing lead characters can be tricky. They're usually the first character that comes to mind when we're crafting our story. As such, we tend to have definitive, even strict, ideas of how that character will dress, how he or she will behave, and even what happens to them along the way. As such, many writers end up crafting their leads as rigid and one-dimensional. As a result, their lead character becomes passive and the supporting characters end up being much more proactive and interesting. Writing a truly memorable lead character takes a full understanding of your character's wants, needs, obstacles, flaws and much more. It means digging into the psychology of your lead before you begin writing so that you can make wonderful, informed discoveries throughout the writing process.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith a constant parade of franchise sequels, remakes, and reboots, it’s become harder than ever to create a unique and nuanced lead character that audiences feel they haven’t seen before. And in a marketplace crowded with more of the same, it’s never been more essential (and potentially lucrative) for screenwriters to set their work apart. In addition, with the explosion of content being created for the streaming platforms, it's more important than ever, no matter whether you're writing features or TV, that you are able to create lead characters that development execs, producers, showrunners, and financiers can't deny and want to follow. That uniqueness in voice and vision is getting writers signed, sold, staffed, and more and more work than ever before. So how can writers create characters that appeal to a wide audience without sacrificing the very qualities that make them singular?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTyler Ruggeri is a writer with over a decade of experience on both sides of the entertainment industry.\u003c\/strong\u003e His original screenplay \u003cem\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMaking Of Rock Hudson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e sold to veteran producers Celine Rattray (\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Kids Are Alright, Bernie\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e) and Trudie Styler (\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMoon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e) of \u003cstrong\u003eMaven Pictures\u003c\/strong\u003e. He is currently adapting a critically acclaimed non-fiction book and writing an original action drama. Prior to his writing career, Tyler was a talent manager at \u003cstrong\u003eExile Entertainment\u003c\/strong\u003e, where he represented screenwriters and directors while developing the company’s slate of projects. He signed emerging filmmakers including Lee Patterson (Nicholl Fellowship winner for \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSnatched\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e) and \u003cstrong\u003emultiple Academy Award Winner \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDamien Chazelle\u003c\/strong\u003e, who wrote and directed \u003cstrong\u003eLA LA LAND, WHIPLASH\u003c\/strong\u003e, and, most recently, \u003cstrong\u003eBABYLON\u003c\/strong\u003e, directed \u003cstrong\u003eFIRST MAN,\u003c\/strong\u003e and wrote the sci-fi hit \u003cstrong\u003e10 CLOVERFIELD LANE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eTyler has read thousands of screenplays and knows first hand what makes a memorable and multi-dimensional protagonist.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnd now Tyler is teaching you\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e how to write interesting and complicated characters that audiences can root for without sacrificing depth.\u003c\/strong\u003e Tyler will focus on studying (and deconstructing) the building blocks of movie protagonists in a straightforward, fun, and easy to digest format. He’ll discuss character in a macro-level approach while zeroing in on recent examples from popular films. He will teach you about making meaningful choices for your characters and how you can't be afraid to make the tough choice. He will delve into your characters wants, needs, and goals. He will discuss whether you lead character needs to be likable. He will teach you all the rules of writing characters and show you how you can break those rules to stand out from the crowd and make an exec turn pages. He will teach you all the tips and tricks of character building that he's learned over the last 10+ years of working with writers and reading scripts. He'll even discuss writer's block - if there is such a thing - and how to get beyond it all and keep writing.\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e In short, he will teach you everything to have your lead characters jumping from the page and pulling the reader along for his or her journey.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRAISE FOR TYLER'S TEACHINGS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Tyler is an extremely articulate presenter. It really helped to have such specific information about how a character can be multi-dimensional. I already see the issues with my protagonist and can't wait to get it all fixed!\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e- Becca B.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"\u003c\/strong\u003eI took pages and pages of notes, thank you! Very well delivered, Tyler clearly had a vast knowledge of the subject. I really enjoyed it!\"\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e- Natalie E.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42C2CB; font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\"Thank you for bringing Tyler back. One of my favorite Stage 32 educators! This seemed like a week's worth of material delivered concisely and deliberately. I'm so grateful!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42C2CB; font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e- Bob K.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42C2CB; font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"http:\/\/admin.stage32.com\/vendor\/moxiemanager\/data\/uploads\/18_11.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"158\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage 32","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48055641637171,"sku":"","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/7728\/4659\/files\/image_65c5976ec6473.jpg?v=1707448177","url":"https:\/\/stage32.myshopify.com\/products\/writing-the-cinematic-protagonist-how-to-create-memorable-multi-dimensional-lead-characters","provider":"Stage 32","version":"1.0","type":"link"}