I think Captain Jack Sparrow probably has the absolute best character introduction ever put on film. Honestly it tells you everything you need to know about the character without saying a word. A close second would be Strider in Lord of the rings. Then again you can't miss the old classics as the ones seen here. Nice video Stavros. As always please keep them coming.

Yes, great intros in these films… I just remember the impact Raiders had on me way back when…call me nostalgic😊

The tip on introduction through speculation lit a lightbulb for me! Immediately knew how to introduce the antagonist. thank you!

@getwriting2204

3 күн бұрын

You're very welcome! Thanks for commenting.

I really love how you said that its important for us to introduce our characters in an intriguing way because it is through the introduction that audience members decide weather or not this characters journey is worth "partaking" in. Your protagonist must be special, I mean you've decided to write a story that revolves around his/her life journey, there must be something extraordinary about them! :))

@getwriting2204

10 күн бұрын

Yes, indeed, Elizabeth. Unless we are intrigued or fascinated in some way why should we spend time with them? Thank you for the comment.

I've found that when creating the main character I have an idea of introduce them, though have not focused on how to make their introduction more engaging or sharing their traits.

@getwriting2204

13 күн бұрын

I think it’s helpful to think of a couple of traits first since that will assist you in shaping the character’s actions and dialogue. Thanks for the comment!

@GamerKito

13 күн бұрын

@@getwriting2204 Thanks! Any thoughts on introducing a character through showing their weaknesses, for example, a mentally strong character in a physically demanding situation that emphasizes their lack of physical strength? This would of course be to build up on their desire to gain physical strength or something along those lines.

@getwriting2204

12 күн бұрын

I would maybe start by showing how he uses his brains to get out of a troubling situation that would otherwise require strength, but indicating in some way that brains won’t always get him out of trouble. You can also support this by having him watch two creatures fighting in a KZread video-say a small dog scaring off a much bigger animal, only to have the small dog be snatched by an even bigger animal-say a crocodile or even an eagle. That example would illustrate that bravado or brains does not always work. Just some ideas to get you thinking…

@GamerKito

12 күн бұрын

@@getwriting2204 Thanks for the insight! I see how the example given can help introduce the character in a more positive light as well as a create a bond with the viewer!

I've seen many videos saying that protagonists must be introduced at the very beginning and if you want to introduce other characters before, it must be in a prologue, which I don't think is necessary. In one of my stories, the protagonist is a young teacher hired in her former school. She's barely mentioned, not even described, the story being told from the POV of a blind boy. The boy starts wondering if she's really here and she jumpscares him by asking if everyone's here. She then punishes a little girl who used to get away with everything because of her rich parents. The pupils then understand that this teacher is not a person to mess with.

@getwriting2204

12 күн бұрын

I think any inflexible rules make for sameness in stories. Having a delayed entry to the stage generates story questions. It seems to me that your story does indeed do that!

Inspirational. I now have to go back to the beginning of my story and put some of your wonderful advice to work. Absolutely brilliant, Stavros. I can't thank you enough.

@stavroshalvatzis2947

13 күн бұрын

Cheers, Keith. Thank you for the comment.

Good stuff. I myself have struggled with how to introduce my characters in my own writing. When I submitted my first draft to a editor I was told that my hero was not very likeable and was described as a mary-sue with no likeable traits. I needed to give her something. Something needed to happen to my hero to propel her into conflict. Take a character like Harry Potter. He's a sad little boy who lives a sad little life. The character is a total drag untill one day he gets a very special letter in the mail. This scrawny little orphan does not appear to be much - however he is the choosen one - the one who surived the killing curse who is the key to defeating the world's most powerful wizard. Short summary the least intresting character of a story needs SOMETHING extraordinary to happen to them that wil make them a more intresting character. How sad would it be if Chalie Bucket never found his golden ticket or if Harry never got his letter from Hogwarts ?

@getwriting2204

13 күн бұрын

Yes, those examples amount to the characters receiving ‘the call to adventure’…how they initially react to it defines the start of their character arc.

Nice. Lawrence of Arabia has a rumoured entrance as different people discuss him with conflicting impressions at his funeral.

@getwriting2204

13 күн бұрын

Yes! This plays off the second point. Thank you for the comment

@stavroshalvatzis2947

13 күн бұрын

That’s quite the technique!

Thank you. This has been quite helpful.

@getwriting2204

13 күн бұрын

You’re welcome. Thank you for letting me know.😊

@stavroshalvatzis2947

11 күн бұрын

Glad you found it helpful! Thank you for letting me know.

This does raise a question, however: Don't make what mistake?

@getwriting2204

13 күн бұрын

Hi, thanks for the question. I do mention this in the video… “This approach also helps us to avoid a common beginner’s mistake, which is to spoon-feed too much accurate information about the protagonist from the start…”