You only get one chance to make a first impression… And the same goes for your characters in your scripts. A compelling character introduction can hook a reader instantly so they climb aboard for the rest of your story. So many people talk about how a screenplay needs to grab a reader within the first five pages – let's dive in to how you grab them and keep them turning pages.

Includes real world examples from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, WHIPLASH, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and BREAKING BAD.

If we don’t care about the characters, we won’t be invested in the story. Far too often, we’re so eager to get into our script’s plot, that we don’t give our characters the attention they need. Ultimately, a character doesn’t have to be likeable, or even relatable, but they do need to be captivating. If you’ve ever received a note like, “I don’t like your protagonist,” or “I’m not sure what the character wants,” or “the characters felt one-dimensional,” or “the story took a while to get going,” then this is the webinar for you.

Steve Desmond is a screenwriter who works across a variety of genres. His sci-fi adventure screenplay, HARRY'S ALL NIGHT HAMBURGERS, was sold to Warner Bros in a bidding war and now has an Oscar nominated producer attached. FilmNation (ARRIVAL, THE KINGS SPEECH) hired him to adapt the Stoker-award-winning horror novel THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD. His short film, MONSTERS, which he wrote and directed, has amassed over one million views online and screened in over 100 film festivals worldwide, winning 45 awards including being a winning film in the Stage 32 4th Annual Short Film Contest.

Steve will focus on different methods to introduce your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters in your projects. By using both real life examples and case studies in film and TV, he’ll help you tailor your thinking to “character first, plot second.” Whether your characters are larger than life heroes, cruel villains, or average Joe’s and Jane’s, he’ll give you tips to help them leap off the page from the first time that we meet them. Steve will not only dive into your main characters, but supporting characters including your villains. He will also go deeper into how to create suspense, setting up opposites for your characters, and establishing contrasting needs. Finally, Steve will illustrate everything he's gone over with real world examples from films and shows such as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, WHIPLASH, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and BREAKING BAD.

Praise for Steve's Stage 32 Webinar:

"This was fantastic. Steve offered so much insight, dozens of little nuggets that rang true or gave me pause to think of something I'd never considered before."
-Ed K.

"Perfectly laid out, clear and concise material taught by a genial host!"
-George P.

"Steve was fantastic. His examples and insights were on point. Thanks!"
-Adam H.

"I made 3 pages of notes; good pertinent topics with simple fundamental answers presented. Very helpful, worth the time and fee."
-Thomas W.

• Character before Plot
• Why a Character Intro is one of the most important parts of your script
• When does a Character Intro begin and when does it end?
• Character Intro Basics
• Establishing a character arc through one scene
• Establishing the central character relationship through one scene
• Using a character intro to establish tone and theme
• Giving each character their own private moment with the audience
• What NOT to Do
• Tips for avoiding complex introductions that are hard to pull off
• Exploring common tropes to stay away from
• Meeting your Heroes
• Wish fulfillment vs. Relatable
• Winning the scene vs. Losing the scene
• On top of the world vs. Down in the dumps
• Meeting your Villains
• How to make them compelling but threatening
• Establishing their goal and arc in one scene
• Considering the Opposite – A likeable person with bad intentions
• Supporting Characters
• Allowing them to “steal the show” while driving the story forward
• When to do stand-alone scenes and when to meet them with your leads
• Making your bit characters pop
• Additional ways to introduce your characters
• Creating Suspense – How to introduce a character before you even meet them
• Setting up Opposites – How to introduce your heroes and villains to put them on a collision course
• Setting up Contrasting Needs – How to introduce your love interests and setup their relationship before they even meet.
• Case Studies
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
• Whiplash
• The Silence of the Lambs
• Breaking Bad
• Q&A with Steve

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn different methods to introduce your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters in your projects.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn different methods to introduce your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters in your projects.

Producers looking to learn different methods to introduce your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters in your projects.

Actors looking to learn different methods to introduce your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters in your projects.