Characters' Fate Reversal: Balance, Disruption, Restoration - Script: Gods Must Die
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In the world of screenwriting and story analysis, Paul Peditto is a name to reckon with. The acclaimed writer and analyst often delves into the transformational journeys of characters, known as character arcs, in films.
Character arcs represent the evolution a character undergoes throughout a story, typically starting at Point A (initial state) and culminating at Point Z (final resolution). Some of the most notable examples of films with remarkable character arcs include "The Godfather," "Rocky," and "The Shawshank Redemption."
In "The Godfather," Michael Corleone begins as an innocent outsider and transforms into a ruthless Mafia boss. Rocky Balboa, in "Rocky," starts as an underdog boxer with little confidence and grows into a determined champion. Andy Dufresne, in "The Shawshank Redemption," moves from a falsely imprisoned and disheartened man to a hopeful, free individual who outsmarts his oppressors.
These arcs generally progress through stages of challenge, self-discovery, conflict, and resolution, reflecting deep psychological or moral change.
Paul Peditto, who can be found at www.scriptgodsmustdie.com and on Twitter @scriptgods, has authored the book "The DIY Filmmaker: Life Lessons for Surviving Outside Hollywood." He also teaches screenwriting at Columbia College-Chicago and has professionally consulted on thousands of screenplays since 2002.
In addition to his work with famous films, Peditto has also delved into lesser-known titles. For instance, he examines the character arc of Jack Nicholson's character in "The Shining" and Richard Gere's character in "Pretty Woman."
In "The Shining," Nicholson's character, a writer and family man, takes a job as caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, leading to a descent into madness. In "Pretty Woman," Gere's character, a wheeler-dealer multimillionaire, picks up a streetwalker, Julia Roberts, and later finds himself transformed through their relationship.
Peditto's analysis extends to more contemporary films as well. In "The Devil Wears Prada," Anne Hathaway's character, Andy Sachs, a recent Northwestern grad looking to pay off her student debt, is chosen for a job at Runway magazine despite her fashion ignorance and later becomes Miranda Priestly's trusted assistant.
After a series of events, Andy quits her job and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, making amends with her ex-boyfriend and finding a new job outside of the fashion world.
Peditto's insights are not limited to just the screen. He has written and directed the award-winning film "Jane Doe," starring Calista Flockhart.
While Peditto's commentary on specific examples can be found in various interviews and articles, for a more detailed analysis, sources or excerpts may be provided for further exploration.
- In his book "The DIY Filmmaker: Life Lessons for Surviving Outside Hollywood," Paul Peditto discusses the transformational journeys of characters, known as character arcs, in movies.
- A notable example of a film with a remarkable character arc is "The Godfather," where Michael Corleone transitions from an innocent outsider to a ruthless Mafia boss.
- Paul Peditto's analysis extends to lesser-known titles, such as Jack Nicholson's character in "The Shining," who goes from a writer and family man to a man descending into madness after taking a job as caretaker of the Overlook Hotel.
- In "Pretty Woman," Peditto examines the character arc of Richard Gere's character, who transforms from a wheeler-dealer multimillionaire into a changed man through his relationship with Julia Roberts' character.
- Peditto's insights also apply to contemporary films, like "The Devil Wears Prada," where Anne Hathaway's character, Andy Sachs, learns a great deal about herself after quitting her job at Runway magazine and embarking on a journey of self-discovery.
- Apart from his work with films, Paul Peditto has written and directed the award-winning film "Jane Doe," starring Calista Flockhart, demonstrating his versatility in storytelling for both movies and the screen.
