Well, I'm working on another script for the year and just realized that I don't have a clear antagonist. So here I am going through my scene list to figure out what the antagonist wants and what is their "villainy" plan. Arrggghhh!!!
Has any one ever been through this?
What's your writing process?
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Anthony McBride Oh no! you've got it all backwards! breaking the story is the FUN part, tearing your hair out is supposed to be scheduled for your writing breaks!
In seriousness, usually the antagonist is defined by their either opposite or extreme stance on the theme when compared to your protagonist, as illustrated by your protagonists hubris- hope that helps!
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Similarly, it can be such a frustrating realization when you suddenly notice the antagonist you do have, isn’t fully realized yet. For me, that’s often a signal that the character needs a little more depth beyond just being the obstacle for the protagonist. The best antagonists tend to feel layered and believably human. They have flaws, of course, but they also have strengths, motivations, and a worldview that makes sense to them. They’re a foil to the protagonist, but they’re also interesting in their own right, and sometimes even relatable.
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Thanks for this, guys...
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Give me a brief summary of the story, and I'll try to create a character for you.
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The antagonist can be Nature, The System, or even the Protagonist is their Own Worst Enemy. A loner, couple or ensemble cast, V an economic/social/political situation, rather than one person. Or antagonist can be Unknown, with a mystery to solve in script. Mine the psyche of the character you’ve written. Their good qualities & flaws. What do they want, V they need? Obstacles that can get in their way? Worst that can happen to them? Choice of action, when they’re forced into a crucible of no return? Particular genre specifics, helps to mould antagonists. EG Is your script a Hybrid genre, RomCom, Thriller etc. I’ve flipped a horror, to comedy/horror, cos the tropes within, served protagonist/antagonist conflict more. (In that one particular script, the change served the story.)
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Amateur view: Our antagonists are obviously the culprits who stand in the way of protagonists getting what they want. My Logline should succinctly identify 1) who my protagonist is, 2) what they want, and 3) what/who stands in their way to achieve their goal... That is when my antagonist materializes. Until I have some force energetically and diametrically opposed to the ambition of my protagonist, ... I don't have a compelling story.
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Are you sure you need an antagonist? Sometimes the protagonist is the best antagonist.
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I use my novels that are already published and reviewed to write my screenplays. That way, there is no figuring out. The map is already laid out.