Learn more about Write Brothers, Inc. Dramatica Home Page

storysupportrave reviewsproductssitemap
 
 

Use the arrows above to navigate through the online book.

Section Two

Chapter 5
Genre and the Main and Impact Characters

-02-
 
Dramatica for Screenwriters by Armando Saldaña Mora

Here's an inventory of different kinds of movies—organized by Genre—with a reference to their typical Main and Impact Characters: their personalities, relationships, traits, and other goodies to help us choose the ideal Main and Impact Characters.

Love Stories.  You've guessed it; in this Genre the Main and Impact Characters embody the romantic interest that develops into the amorous relationship (like in Erich Segal's "Love Story").  Choosing the lovers as Main and Impact Characters is what makes this Genre identifiable: if we choose another set as MC/IC (say, the boyfriend and the father-in-law) the story's emotional weight would automatically shift to that relationship and the Genre would be less recognizable.

Similar Genres are:

  • Romantic Comedies.  The above rules apply, but the storytelling becomes humorous (like in Neil Simon's "The Goodbye Girl").

  • The Erotica Genre.  The interest between the Main and Impact Characters is basically carnal (like in "Last Tango In Paris").

  • Buddy-Pictures.  Main and Impact are just buddies (like "Thelma and Louise").  Commonly, Buddy-Pictures pair opposite personalities, give them a task to complete, and make them buddies through that process (like Walter Hill's "48 Hrs").

(CONTINUED)
 
Based on a theory and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley

None of these materials may be copied or reproduced without
prior written permission from Write Brothers, Inc.

Copyright © 1994-2009 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Based on theories and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley
Dramatica is a registered trademark of Screenplay Systems Incorporated. Patent #5,734,916; #6,105,046