How to Write a Screenplay that's a Crowd-Pleaser — Back to the Future & the Flat Character Arc

How "Back to the Future" includes a lead character who manages to achieve his wants and needs without having an actual character arc. This is episode 1 of "The Four Endings."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro — The Four Endings in Every Film
00:41 Protagonist "Wants" & "Needs"
02:05 Four Endings Overview
03:01 Flat Character Arcs Explained
04:45 How to Introduce the "Normal World"
09:20 Story Resolution
10:47 Final Takeaways

There is a reason why Back to the Future became such an iconic film — it started with an immaculately constructed screenplay. Writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale somehow managed to give their protagonist, Marty McFly, both his wants and needs without a traditional character arc. How is this even possible? In this first episode of a mini-series on how to write a screenplay ending, we’re hopping into the DeLorean and punching it up to 88mph.

There are only 4 ways to end a movie and each comes down to whether or not the hero gets their wants and/or needs. First, let’s talk about wants. When writing a screenplay, a “want” is something external and specific to the protagonist that drives the plot forward. In Back to the Future, Marty’s initial want to be a rockstar but that all changes with the introduction of Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine. Once he’s stranded 30 years in the past, Marty McFly unwittingly disrupts his own family history and, therefore, creates a new want — to get his parents to fall in love.

Needs are something internal in the character but universal to us all and something that drives their character arc. But in Back to the Future, Marty doesn’t really have a traditional character arc. He has what KM Weiland describes as a “flat character arc” in which the protagonist doesn’t personally change but becomes the catalyst for change in the characters around them. Therefore, the “need” is mostly attributed to Marty’s father, George McFly. George needs to stand up for himself and be confident.

Here’s where it gets interesting — Marty’s need is to overcome his fear of becoming a “slacker” like his father. So, as Marty pushes George to become a stronger and more assertive character, he is also working towards his own need simultaneously. In the end, Marty gets his want and need, culminating in what we’re calling the “Sweet” ending.

In the next 3 episodes, we’ll cover how to write a screenplay using one of the remaining options (“Semi-Sweet,” “Bittersweet,” and “Bitter”).

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro — The Four Endings in Every Film
00:41 Protagonist "Wants" & "Needs"
02:05 Four Endings Overview
03:01 Flat Character Arcs Explained
04:45 How to Introduce the "Normal World"
09:20 Story Resolution
10:47 Final Takeaways

[collincabrera]

I didn't go to film school but I've been dabbling in screenwriting during my spare time. These types of videos have been extremely helpful! Back to the Future's my favorite movie, so that helps too.

[raffaelesalerno]

Your video, as for the other ones, is very beautiful and useful thanks 🙂

I did my master's degree's thesis on Back to the Future and according to my thesis the carachter of Marty actually changes during the movie, he hasn't a flat arc. Take the scene where he plays with his band The Pinheads and he "fails". Then he and Jennifer go out from school to the bench and he tells self-devaluative sentences like "I'm never gonna get a chance to play in front of anybody" "I just don't think I'm cut out fot music" and Jennifer on the other hand tries to convince him of his value "It's like Doc's always saying: If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything".
Now if we jump to the scene where Marty has just saved himself and his brothers at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance he decides in that moment to play Johnny Be Good, in that moment Marty has changed, because he has understood his value during his all adventure, his arc has complete and he has the courage to exhibit himself in front of a great public (among other things at the risk of altering the space-time line, playing a song so modern for that time).
After all, what Marty will do at the end of the film is to bring home an elixir of increased self-confidence.

[fahdakashmir]

I'm 14, I want to be a filmmaker one day. Thank You StudioBinder for making all of these videos!

edited : Wow i wasnt expecting any replies, But Anyway Thank You So Much for the Positive Replies!😊

[jasonblalock]

Every time I rewatch BTTF, I'm impressed at how many vital plot points they managed to cram into the first 15 minutes. Practically every individual line is establishing something that pays off later - but somehow it doesn't FEEL like a nonstop exposition dump.

[Jo_SW]

This study is just what I needed and wanted as a writer, which has just made my eyes wide open. Can't say how practical and helpful it is. I don't know what to say, thank you, thank you, thank you!

[CluelessIndianGamer]

Character development and story arc explained quite beautifully.
Thankyou studiobinder ❤️

[kartarbhogal]

This channel teaches more content in a single 12 min video than 3 years at film school

[Gamecenter]

I’ve been studying this film ever since 1984 when I was 7, every aspect of this film is historically brilliant. Time travel told in a way many after have still to topple. Thanks for taking time to edit and explain in plain English. Sometimes people make lessons like these way to complicated ✊🏿

[tobewanad]

I like the full trilogy because it creates an arc for Marty

[WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

Back to the Future employs clever foreshadowing in the opening credits. Genius move from Gale and Zemeckis

[blcktar]

Who wants a film school when you got this

[FixFilmsLtd]

Great analysis of a wonderful screenplay - a true classic Hollywood work. Appreciate the structual pointers too; will definitely help me in writing future (and maybe past) screenplays.

[leohaddad]

I love back to the future but you just made me realize how brilliant the screen play is

[moviesgalore]

Plutonium - Handle with Care - hilarious introduction of the plutonium.

[InfiniteCyclus]

Back to the future is such a master piece...

[sabadragon]

you cant leave us like this! We need episode 2!

[markparkinson]

You are a great YouTube channel, not just for making very helpful references, tips, advice and guides for filmmaking, but also to responding to every little comment you can! We here at the YouTube comment section appreciate you for that.
And I have a suggestion; I would be interested in your channel’s filmmaking perspectives when it comes to Indian cinema. Doesn’t just have to be Bollywood, because also Tamil cinema, or Mayalam cinema. Would be very interested to know your thoughts and if you prefer, I can reference some movies for you to use as guides to filmmaking in your videos.

[tonatiuhaguilar]

As always, an excellent video and with one of my favorites. We're starting this year with a high note. Thank you, Studio Binder.

[lawsonwilliams]

Damian Chezel's Oscar nominated Whiplash also have a flat arc main character played by Miles Teller.