Characters' Fate Depending on Order, Chaos, and Reordering: Script Titled "Script Gods Must Die"
In the world of storytelling, the journey of a character is often as captivating as the plot itself. One individual who delves deep into this aspect is Paul Peditto, a renowned writer and teacher. His expertise lies in dissecting character arcs, a crucial element in crafting compelling narratives.
Peditto's works and contact information can be found at www.scriptgodsmustdie.com and on Twitter @scriptgods. He is the author of "The DIY Filmmaker: Life Lessons for Surviving Outside Hollywood" and has written, directed, and optioned multiple scripts. Moreover, he teaches screenwriting at Columbia College-Chicago and professionally consults on screenplays.
Peditto often discusses the structure of character arcs, breaking them down into three distinct parts: Point A/ORDER, chaos, and Point Z-Reorder. This transformational lens is likely applied in his analysis of famous movies. However, specific examples of movies analyzed by Peditto following this structure are not explicitly mentioned in the available materials.
Let's take a look at some well-known movies with great character arcs following this structure:
- The Dark Knight: Bruce Wayne starts as a vigilant but controlled hero (Point A), faces chaotic threats and moral dilemmas (chaos), and evolves into a more complex symbol of sacrifice and order (Point Z).
- Star Wars: A New Hope: Luke Skywalker begins on a farm (Point A), encounters rebellion and danger (chaos), and becomes a Jedi and rebel hero (Point Z).
- The Godfather: Michael Corleone is an outsider to crime at first (Point A), undergoes family and moral chaos, and ends as the mafia don (Point Z).
These examples demonstrate the classic transformational arc, often referred to in storytelling theory, and possibly in Peditto's teachings.
In the movie "Gran Torino", Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an ex-factory worker who hates the Asians who have moved into his community. Gradually, respect grows between Walt and the Vietnamese family's son. This narrative follows a character arc, but its specific application of the Point A/ORDER, chaos, and Point Z-Reorder structure is not explicitly stated.
Similarly, in "The Shining", Jack Nicholson's character, a writer and family man, takes a job as caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. His character changes as he becomes increasingly unstable due to the strange happenings at the hotel and starts to harm his family. The character arc ends with his death and the revelation that he was always the caretaker at the Overlook Hotel.
In "Pretty Woman", the character changes when Julia Roberts' character causes a commotion in Richard Gere's social circle and her identity is revealed, causing further scandal. The character arc ends with Gere and Roberts' characters marrying, despite the initial low chances at the start of the movie.
Another intriguing character arc can be found in the movie "Bucket of Blood", where a busboy, played by Walter Paisley, accidentally kills the landlady's cat and covers it up by creating a sculpture out of plaster. His "sculpture" is received well by the bohemian artists, who hail him as a new artist. However, the specific application of the Point A/ORDER, chaos, and Point Z-Reorder structure in this movie is not provided.
In a less conventional narrative, the character Walter, in an attempt to further his artistic career, continues to kill people and creates more sculptures. His actions eventually lead to a show of his art being planned, celebrating his transformation into an artistic wunderkind, but also causing commotion among the bohemians when a piece of plaster from one of his sculptures chips away, revealing a human finger.
Peditto's insights into character arcs provide valuable guidance for aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers. For a deeper understanding of his teachings, exploring his published writings or website is recommended.
- Paul Peditto, a prominent figure in the world of storytelling, delves into examining character arcs, a vital element in scriptwriting.
- Peditto's teachings often involve dissecting the structure of character arcs, segmenting them into three parts: Point A/ORDER, chaos, and Point Z-Reorder.
- The Dark Knight, Star Wars: A New Hope, and The Godfather are famous movies with character arcs following this structure, as demonstrated through their respective protagonists' transformations.
- Clint Eastwood's character in Gran Torino and Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining also undergo character arcs, although the specific application of Peditto's structure is not explicitly stated.
- In Pretty Woman, the character arc of Julia Roberts' character culminates in her marriage to Richard Gere's character, following an unexpected turn of events.
- The movie Bucket of Blood features an unconventional character arc, where the protagonist, a busboy, transforms into an artistic wunderkind, but the application of Peditto's Point A/ORDER, chaos, and Point Z-Reorder structure is not provided.
