Characters' Fates Reversed: Order, Chaos, Rebalance - Script Gods Must Perish
In the world of screenwriting, Paul Peditto stands out as an authority on character arcs. Known for his work on the award-winning film Jane Doe and his book The DIY Filmmaker: Life Lessons for Surviving Outside Hollywood, Peditto offers valuable insights into crafting compelling character journeys.
Peditto's approach to character arcs focuses on three key moments: the beginning, the transformation, and the resolution. He believes that a character's journey often starts with certain flaws or desires, which are then challenged and transformed through conflicts or realizations.
For instance, in the movie The Devil Wears Prada, the character Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, begins as a recent Northwestern graduate who takes a job at Runway magazine and becomes Miranda Priestly's (Meryl Streep) trusted assistant. Throughout the film, Andy neglects her friends and boyfriend while immersed in Miranda's world, but eventually quits and finds a new job outside of the fashion world.
Similarly, in Pretty Woman, the character arc begins with Richard Gere playing a multimillionaire who picks up Julia Roberts, a streetwalker. By the end of the film, they get married, despite initial social opposition.
Peditto's analysis also extends to other famous movies. In The Shining, Jack Nicholson's character, Jack Torrance, starts as a writer and family man who takes a job as caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. His transformation into a violent and murderous figure is a chilling example of a character arc gone wrong.
Another intriguing example is from the movie Gran Torino, where Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an ex-factory worker who hates his own people and the Asians who have moved into his community. Through a series of events, Kowalski saves a Vietnamese boy from a gang, leading to a growing respect between them, and ultimately transforming into a selfless hero.
However, Peditto's specific analysis of these character arcs, as presented in the search results, was not available. Nonetheless, his focus on clear moments of transformation and his emphasis on the importance of character arcs in storytelling make him a valuable resource for aspiring screenwriters.
Peditto also shares his insights at Columbia College-Chicago, where he teaches screenwriting, and professionally consults on thousands of screenplays since 2002. His work continues to shape the way stories are told on the silver screen.
- Paul Peditto, a noteworthy figure in the world of screenwriting, is renowned for his expertise on character arcs.
- Peditto's method for crafting character arcs revolves around three decisive moments: the beginning, the transformation, and the resolution.
- In the movie The Devil Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway's character, Andy Sachs, undergoes a significant transformation, starting as a Northwestern graduate and ending up outside the fashion world.
- Among Peditto's many analyses, the character arc in Gran Torino, where Clint Eastwood's character, Walt Kowalski, transforms from a hated ex-worker into a selfless hero, is particularly intriguing.
- Aside from teaching screenwriting at Columbia College-Chicago, Peditto also consults on numerous screenplays, contributing significantly to the way stories are told in movies.
- Aspiring screenwriters can gain valuable insights from Peditto's focus on clear moments of transformation and his emphasis on the significance of character arcs in the entertainment sphere, including movies-and-tv.
