Development - Tell Me A Story And Make It A Good One

Brian Kindregan - Lead Writer Blizzard Entertainment

 The topic of this week’s post will focus on the development phase of a production project.  In general, the development phase of any film, motion picture, broadcast episode, or short begins with the creation of an initial concept and script for the project.  After this phase the project generally moves towards the development of the characters to be portrayed within the work.  Within the entertainment industry, many professionals have agreed that this phase of production is the most critical and important part of creating a successful project.  During this phase, opportunities to examine plot holes and inconsistencies in the story are viewed with minimal scrutiny.  As the project progresses and even after distribution, ignoring these issues can provide ammunition for critics as so called “gotcha” moments, in which the logical progression of the work is torn apart to reveal inconsistencies within the plot, characters, or production of the work as suggested by Brian Kindregan, Lead Writer for Blizzard Entertainment.  

Cris De Lara - Illustrator, Pinup Artist, & Owner Cris De Lara Studios

Regarding character development, the key trait for any character in a story is to portray a portion of the overall message that the creator is attempting to convey to his or her audience.  For dramatic storytelling characters will often be portrayed as brooding, manipulative, or cunning.  In comedies characters are depicted often times as witty, clueless, or sarcastic.  Action adventure characters are portrayed as tough, roguish, or calculating, and so on.  In written storytelling, each character archetype is dependent on the underlying theme or message for the project they are featured in and it is therefore important that when developing these personalities that each segment of the message that they represent be fully articulated in their personalities, mannerisms, actions, and dialogue.  This principle also applies to the film, television, and motion picture industry as well as the message or theme of the production is the key factor that generates the underlying entertainment value of the project.  Several examples can be given of projects that contained spectacular visuals and appealing characters, but that were ultimately unsuccessful due to a flat storyline or message.  In order to create a successful project, a creator must capture his or her audience with a spectacle so compelling that it would ultimately be a “sin” not to view the project for the sake of sheer entertainment.