Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen
To review: A role’s characterization conceals her true character, and together they float atop her subconscious, that ocean of drives and desires, unthinking habits and sea tides of temperament. These three aspects—outer, inner, hidden—gather to complete a character, but what keeps them from flying apart? What pulls surface personae, inner selves,
... See moreRobert McKee • Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen
driven stories put major turning points, especially the inciting incident, beyond the characters’ control.
Robert McKee • Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen
Depth of character is a measure of inner complexity, but a character cannot have greater complexity than the forces of antagonism he confronts in life. How can we sense his depths if his conflicts don’t expose them?
Robert McKee • Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen
A story is a metaphor for life that expresses the nature of being; a character is a metaphor for humanity that expresses the nature of becoming.
Robert McKee • Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen
What do we want from a well-told story? To live in a world we could never experience. What do we want from a well-told character? To experience a life we would never live through a person we could never forget.