A Rookie Writing Mistake That Can Ruin A Screenplay - Jill Chamberlain

DOWNLOAD THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE FORMS

Jill Chamberlain is the author of one of the highest rated screenwriting books on Amazon entitled The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting.

MORE VIDEOS WITH JILL CHAMBERLAIN

CONNECT WITH JILL CHAMBERLAIN

BECOME A FILM COURAGE MEMBER

CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE

BUSINESS INQUIRIES

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST

PROMOTE YOUR MOVIE, WEBSERIES, OR PRODUCT ON FILM COURAGE

SUPPORT FILM COURAGE

Stuff we use:

AUDIO

*These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.

#writing #screenwriting #screenplay

[Filmmaker]

I think the biggest flaw in Hollywood is how they have completely forgotten about originality. The same films come out, the remakes, the obsession with super heroes movies. Its really an unoriginal time.

[joseafalvel]

I believe the character's flaw is essential in order to give him/her an interesting arc, the way the protagonist overcomes their worst fears it's what drives the story to the climax, by the way I loved your example, "Flight" is one of my favorite movies about a main character with negative traits.

[runtheptnite]

Flight is a great example of a protagonist not getting what he wants but getting what he needs. That's achievable when you've established a clear desire line & wound; they serve as the basis for your external & internal conflicts, respectively.

[larkmacallan]

Jill is utterly fantastic wow
Going to talk to her someday for sure

[Sandra-wjon]

Sometimes a character's flaw is what redeems him/or her. In the real storyline A Wrinkle In Time, the protagonist Meg's flaw is that she wanted to fit in, be and act like everyone one else, not feel so deeply. She wanted to get rid of her flaws. But it was her so-called flaws that helped her overcome in the end and save not only her brother Charles Wallace, but planet Earth as a whole. My favorite childhood book of all time.

[xianthegaian]

The flaw makes the character relatable and that is essential because we all like to switch the main character with ourselves especially alpha males in action movies.... In this day and age when everything JUST HAS to be perfect, we all like to know that you can have a bad track record and still come out THE HERO at the end....in other words, it gives hope to those of us who are not polished or posh that we still have a chance to redeem ourselves in this super competitive era

[braindamage]

😱 adding flaws to my hero. Love your insight!

[DaveTheTurd]

"Nothing can stop The Flaawww!" (J. Carrey)

[ranimationstudios]

Would be interesting to hear her opinion on movies whose protagonist doesn’t have a flaw, yet leads an entertaining movie. (like Indiana Jones or Bond)

[davidcopperfield]

"end by the end you have us cheering for them"
Reminds of that sucker Anatol or whatever his name was from War&Peace 2016 from BBC.
You are utterly disgusted by the way he treats women, arranged marriage, other peoples feelings, but at the end when he gets both his legs cut off and screams for mercy, just awesome. He begs for it to the character next to him, but its a smart trick from the scriptwriter making him beg for it to the audience, and you understand that he is just a poor kid, enjoying sex and trying to make a living by far not the worst way possible.

[SpiffyMcZender]

She really reminds me of Laurie Metcalf.

[CorNR]

Can’t wait until I get to the point where I can write this well!

[unleashed]

If you can, could you get more interviews on writing the origin story for a film? I've never done it. I usually start off writing in my journal, from that the outline then the screenplay. I just want to know how they form it. Thanks in advance...

[acharich]

Mmm, flawed heroes are key.. 🔑

And likewise, the antagonist needs one redeemable / likeable quality right..? 📝

Thanks, this is helpful..! 🔥

- @Acharich

[TheWalkingDavid]

I don’t feel like I learned nearly as much from this woman compared to some of the other people that you have had on. I feel she’s a bit too anecdotal, and not as good at instructing other people how to shape a character around their flaws. I may be alone in this, but I know you guys read the comments, so I wanted to give my two cents. Thank you for hearing me out. I love your channel.

[BigDaddyJinx]

I always try to give my protagonist some kind of flaw or similar because it makes them relatable. NO ONE likes a main character who is flawless. I'll use Mary Sue Palpatine as the only example I'd ever need. Not only was she flawless, she magically had the ability to be better than anyone at everything with next to zero effort. Absurd and totally unrelatable.

The flaw doesn't have to be an over the top one wither. I have a protagonist whose chief flaw is that they're a total klutz. That's all the flaw I need and can build a world around that flaw for them. Is it a flaw that will be fixed or resolved? No. Why would it be? Not all flaws can or should be resolved. The flaw gave them dimension and by resolving that flaw, you remove that dimension and have put them back into a flawless position that no one can relate to. A flaw or flaws can ground a character. Use them wisely and don't tack one on "because reasons". Make sure the flaw humanizes them, makes them relatable, and plays into the bigger story somehow. If you give someone an alcohol problem, how does that play into the narrative? If it has no bearing on the story and doesn't hinder or help them in some manner, or doesn't present an obstacle to overcome (even if momentarily) then don't use it.

That's my take.

[donnabailey]

The problem I had with her using The Verdict as an example of a great screenplay, which shows the main protagonist's flaws, is that the story was a novel, adapted for the screen. That screenwriter didn't come up with the story from his own imagination. Whereas, Flight was an original screenplay. It was also great to see Denzel Washington play a character with flaws, something most black actors don't get an opportunity to do. Years ago, only white actors got those roles.

[JrtheKing]

When you guys say a flawed character, or a characters weakness, what do you mean?

[faibabernard]

Well, for my protagonists... I don't deliberately set out to create a fLaw for them, they come out with a littLe bit of a dick-Like attitude aLready right from inception... So I'm gLad when I hear these kindda points from screenwriters/lecturers, makes me know I'm threadin' on the right grounds...
Glory be to God

[Tousicle]

Victim mind-set is a HUGE FLAW actually and one that in today's society plagues a lot of people. It's them, not me, could even be pride or ego, self-centeredness; so that is a flaw lol, but yeah, I don't think she meant it in that way. I know. But just wanted to point that out; she's probably aware of that.