Hi everyone,
I have a half sci-.fi, half psychological, half coming-of-age idea.
I don't want to say too much about it. The main thing is that the plot is already developing and I'm already shaping the arc of my protagonist. I'd like to hear your opinions, is it a good character arc:
She have obsessive, unwitting thoughts (btw, she have OCD). She is very disturbed by these thoughts, she doesn't want to think about them. And she feels guilty about them
Her psychologist suggests a technique to help her overcome them for a while.
It works, but only for a while. She is now even more tormented by guilt.
She decides to escape. (the story takes place on a spaceship)...
And then, you know, happy ending, etc....
I haven't actually worked out the ending of the film yet, so this arc will change!
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Hi, Imola Orbán. I haven't heard of overcoming obsessive, unwitting thoughts being a character arc, but it might be one. I see a character arc as something the character is doing that he/she has to overcome, like stop being selfish, stop being a coward, stop being greedy, stop stealing, etc. But again, overcoming obsessive, unwitting thoughts might be a character arc. Or is "stop feeling guilty" your protagonist's arc?
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I like it. The mental health angle is daring in a good way, and you can evoke some deep emotions with this idea. Good luck!
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Maurice Vaughan Yes, the overcoming the thoughts is my protagonist's arc! ^^
But actually, she's one of her big dreams can't come true at the moment, so she feels a bit out of place in the world. I model the character after myself, I have similar feelings and thoughts (yeah, obsessive thoughts too!)
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Arc is about a character overcoming a flaw that is holding them back from achieving their goal. That's how I like to think about it. In THE KING'S SPEECH, the protagonist wants to and needs to become a great leader BUT must overcome a debilitating stammer. So thinking about what your character wants and needs can help you define their arc. I like that she has some success and then fails. That's conflict that can help her grow and change!
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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh Thank you! ^^ I've put a lot of my old ideas into this film project, but this thread is inspired by my current problems. I have the same obsessive thoughts as she does. My psychologist told me I was looking for my place in the world, that's why I have them. But she also agreed with me that I might have OCD.
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Barri Evins Thank you! Yes, it definitely will! :) She wants these thoughts to go away. And is to become a playwright/softball player/singer (I haven't decided which yet)
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So, I have a few questions. This seems like an internal struggle. Why the scifi angle then? I think take a step back. What is the story really about? What is your character's goal? What stands in her way? What does she do to overcome it? What is the theme?
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Try reading The Hero with a Thousand Faces (first published in 1949) is a work of comparative mythology by Joseph Campbell. This is the book Lucas used as the foundation for Luke Skywalkers character ark.