Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen

by Robert McKee

Overview

The long-awaited third volume of Robert McKee’s trilogy on the art of fiction. 
 
Following up his perennially bestselling writers' guide Story and his inspiring exploration of the art of verbal action in Dialogue, the most sought-after expert in the storytelling brings his insights to the creation of compelling characters and the design of their casts.
 
CHARACTER explores the design of a character universe: The dimensionality, complexity and arcing of a protagonist, the invention of orbiting major characters, all encircled by a cast of service and supporting roles.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455591954
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Robert McKee, a Fulbright Scholar, is the world's most sought-after author and lecturer in the art of story. His writing seminars have earned him an international reputation. The cornerstones of his teaching are Story and Dialogue. Translated into 23 languages, these singular works have defined how we talk about the art of storytelling. Over the last 35 years, he has mentored screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, poets, documentary makers, producers, and directors. The list of McKee alumni includes the winners of over 70 Academy Awards, 250 Emmy Awards, and 100 Writers Guild of America Awards, as well as recipients of the Pulitzer, Booker, Olivier, and other major prose and playwriting prizes.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Part 1 In Praise of Characters

Chapter 1 Characters Versus People 3

Chapter 2 The Aristotle Debate 14

Chapter 3 An Author Prepares 27

Part 2 Building a Character

Chapter 4 Character Inspiration: Outside In 45

Chapter 5 Character Inspiration: Inside Out 54

Chapter 6 Roles Versus Characters 68

Chapter 7 The Outer Character 88

Chapter 8 The Inner Character 107

Chapter 9 The Dimensional Character 124

Chapter 10 The Complex Character 137

Chapter 11 The Completed Character 160

Chapter 12 The Symbolic Character 178

Chapter 13 The Radical Character 192

Part 3 The Character Universe

Chapter 14 Character in Genre 207

Chapter 15 Character in Action 226

Chapter 16 Character in Performance 235

Part 4 Character Relationships

Chapter 17 Cast Design 253

Conclusion: The Revolutionary Writer 291

Acknowledgments 293

Glossary 295

Notes 301

Index 307