Prof. Juan G. Noblejas

45
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Vulnerability of the protagonist is the way to engage the
audience’s sympathies. He or she [because of the “flaw”, or
the inner conflict] is an “underdog” in the contest with the
antagonist.
Empathy comes when the protagonist’s motivation is clear,
laudable and plausible.
The audience should be able to say: “If I were the
protagonist, in this situation I would have similar feelings
and wish I would have the courage, strength or motivation
to take the same actions”.
Your protagonist should have more to lose or to gain than
anyone else in the screenplay.
The protagonist should fight on behalf of others whose lives
or well-being will suffer without his taking action.
The antagonist must appear more powerful than the
protagonist and be in a position in which compromise is
impossible.
Common mistake: not fully developing the character of the
antagonist. An underdeveloped antagonist is boring. In good
scripts, the antagonist is at least as complex as the
protagonist, and has positive motivations behind his
actions...
(Howard & Mabley, “Gli strumenti...”)
Ogni storia drammatica a il suo protagonista.