Screenwriting : Help with wants and needs by Todd Crowell

Kill and take over their captives. Better food. Being able to have sex with each other if their captives allow. Seduce, trick or con captives into making a vulnerable, naive or downright stupid move. Turn one of the captives into a controller of slavery, a classic switch and then they push some they hate into freedom.

You may want to consider what the PLAN is versus scene goals. For example, if the big goal, that takes the entire film to achieve, is "freedom", then what are the goals they have to achieve on the way to "freedom" (i.e. scene objectives)? When you start breaking down the steps of the PLAN to "freedom", that's when you'll find those fun little victories that are needed to get there. Enjoy diving into those details!

Have a philosophical debate: what does it mean to be alive but as a slave, versus, being free but potentially dying. Maybe somewhat to be free and would rather die trying to live in tyranny, and others that are so afraid they rather lick their master's boots instead. Especially if the ones that want to be free have no "sound" plan just yet. There's always going to be that one person in the group that nitpicks everything saying how stupid their "plan" is and that they should just shut up and be slaves. Think Braveheart. The Aussie wanted freedom, that meant going to war and dying, but they still did it anyway, because fighting for what they believed in being free meant more to them than being the British's "slaves".

What's beyond the wasteland? That's the motivation. The fabled Sea? A land flowing with milk and honey? Whether real or not, something out there exists in the minds of the slaves, driving them to escape.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I love getting ideas that shake and bake into more ideas. Helps me get in the zone.

Todd! As a marginalized/disenfranchised black and gay man, I quite agree with those that believed the slaves’ foremost desideratum would be to obtain their freedom, and, in spite the quagmire/wasteland before them - remember that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, as in their former Africa nation, they’ve faced innumerable wastelands, replete in deserts, swamps, marshes and labyrithic boscages, before, only to cultivate them, farm, rear families, hunt and live propitious lives. Hence, they may collude, scheme and Machiavellian about the torments and hardships of entering a wasteland, while, in front their master and overseer, but, privately, they welcome such vicissitudes and milieus, knowing full well that the mobs will not pursue them, thinking they’ve perished to both the barren/deleterious elements and feral beasts...

For ideas, you might check out the Mad Max movies or perhaps Peter Weir's The Way Back for what prisoners/escapees find when they leave the leave the chains & familiarity of confinement for an unknown wasteland.

If all they've ever known is the slave life, just doing the menial tasks that they are forced to do... perhaps one of their goals could be education/ self-development. They are desperate to know more of what life has to offer. And knowledge is power.

I'd say think deeply about the meaningful relationships those enslaved have with one another. How can being enslaved limit the potential of their relationships? Can they be friends with anyone they want? Can they enjoy social gatherings? Can they be in romantic relationships with whoever they want? If NOT being a slave means they get to actually enjoy these relationships / their own community, then they have no choice but to transform the very system that has relegated them to slavery. Does that mean killing one person? Are there people who aren't too crazy about their enslavement that wouldn't mind helping them with some type of coup?

Todd, sorry to bring this up to you, but chasing freedom every time means couple a fella(s) gotta die...now, regarding the concept how about you checking out this marvelous script (and film) called Truman's show...might bring some ideas popping out over your subject...

Wants and needs come from the lives we live, so create deep, detailed character bios and their wants and needs will become clear.

They would all have individual goals, needs, and desires and that creates conflict. One of them may have the goal of wanting to accept the life they have and identifies the slave life as service. There may be a story of faith attached here as well - "the more I suffer the greater my faith is". Another person in the group may need to express their freedom in small acts of anarchy - destabilising the power structures of authority. Another may wish to build a sense of community amongst the enslaved people, so they can figure out a way to begin conflict transformation discussions with their slavers and enact a balance of power. Another may see this as stupendously stupid, but waits out the community building in order to take over the power of the enslaved community in order to fight the power of the slavers. As all these different goals start knocking against each other you've got a brilliant story coming out.

In the meantime, the slavers themselves have their own conflicts occurring. Some are forming sympathies with the enslaved people, some are vying for greater power. One guy just wants "a decent bloody sandwich, for god's sake".

What is the economy built on? - there will be trade-offs and deals occurring. What is the pleasure source? (think of something cool and different that isn't just the same old sex and drugs and violence cuz that's been done to death) People will be trading in that.

As soon as you say dystopian, I think of the speculative fiction genre, but depending on how fantastical your universe is, you can play with the laws of physics and stuff a bit. Is there magic? Is there technology? Is there a hybrid between the two (or tech that looks like heretical magic stuff).

What is anathema? What is taboo? (once again, veer away from the S&D&V - a little bit's okay, but once your basing your entire storyline on young, good-looking women in scanty clothes being abused it gets old and boring and dated and offensive)

What are their living arrangements? How do they stop being killed by whatever is toxic in the wasteland? Can the slaves harness that in some way to threaten the slavers/each other?

Oooh, sounds like a cool story! Get on it!!

Not to pile on. But if I had ideas for your story, I'd probably keep them to myself and write my own screenplay. :D

John's advice is key. I use Save the Cat for my character development and beat boarding - it has you get to the primal reasons for each character.

Bottom line is - don't get discouraged. Utilize the Shower Principle. Maybe walk away from the idea and work on something else. It takes me weeks sometimes before I figure out a problem I run into a story and I'll jump back into writing it.

Hey guys. Thanks for the suggestions. I should have been A LOT more specific when I asked the question. LOL My bad!

I've got the plot/structure already down. The protagonist (slave) does try for freedom after the Inciting Incident propels him into a new existence.

What I was really looking for is more about ideas for characterization during the Setup.

Background: The slaves excavate ancient technology for their masters, who then sell it to neighboring clans. It's a very brutal and patriarchal society. Men are the only ones that mine and women are relegated to sex, birthing (both by having children and/or midwifing), food prep, and spiritual leadership. The male slaves can be awarded wives for good work. This is the opening image.

I wanted to see if there were any other basic ideas for simple human wants and desires in this world. Especially with the women. The ideas I'm looking for aren't about freedom or rebellion, that comes later. Now is just the time for the small things people have the capacity to want in this barbarous world.

I would maybe try leaning into the aspect of family and bonding through tragedy? Maybe they’re slaves that have always been together on the masters land and they’re biggest worry, maybe the only sense of control they could have left is trying to keep their family together?

Historically slaves have extremely high infant mortality rates.And high mortality rates in general so simple wants like more and better food,hygiene,and basic medicine were things traditionally wanted by slaves.Stability within their family units for example in the Southern slave states the slave wedding vows said something along the lines of until death or distance seperates you.And enslaved people also tend to be more devoutly religious which gives you endless potential dramatic opportunities.And as Julia said love whether within the rules of society or forbidden love is as strong a want as anyone could have.It sounds like you've written the female characters to be passive and in my experience women may pretend to be passive but never are.In the late 1800's and early 1900's 2 of the most powerful people in the United States were Florence Kelley and Mary Harris "Mother" Jones.Mother Jones was actually refered to by the uber rich and their political allies as the most dangerous person in America at a time on paper women had no power.I'd jump on Youtube find a documentary called Harlan County USA which won the documentary Academy award in 1976.It's about a coal miners strike that turned violent with strike breakers etc.The women took over the organising and strategy for the strike.It's really up close and personal and you get to see how people whose lives are in danger are being shot at bashed with clubs etc interact react etc.I'm sure it'll give you some ideas for character development,dialogue,authenticity etc.

Mother Jones was amazing! Such a hero. I wonder about this constant drive to depict women as weak, passive, and powerless. Aren't we done with this narrative?

Well, this was an educational experience. Appreciate it.

Go look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We will not go to a higher level until we have satisfied the previous level.

If I am drowning I will not be concerned with self actualisation I may obtain by becoming a better guitar player. Because I am drowning. The need to survive supersedes my love of music.

@Freyja - Agreed. Although to add to that, I'm also quite done with strong female characters being angry in order to exercise that strength (the understanding being if you calm them down, then they would be powerless, or worse, could be provoked). Did you see Brit Marling's NYT post about not wanting to be a "Strong Female Lead"? https://www.indiewire.com/2020/02/brit-marling-new-york-times-strong-fem...

Karen "Kay" Ross I haven't read that yet, I'll take a look now. I love OA. There's something about writing female characters (whether they're the lead or secondary characters) that have their motivation as their personality, instead of their personality reacting to the motivation. The Good Girls did it well for the most part, as well. There was plenty of sex and violence, but the characters were fully alive and fully formed. I'd love to see more of that in secondary characters and extras as well. And in movies/tv where it's not the purpose of the show. Can female characters be incidentally fully alive? That would be nice. Thanks for the article!

Another aspect I don't think has been explored in the other comments is what it would mean if they were in charge. If outside their enclave is death have the current leaders had to make hard decisions to keep more people alive? Are any of the slaves willing to maintain a regimented society to keep it running? I can't imagine it's easy if outside is death - how is everyone fed? Clean water? If suddenly there was no rationing would it collapse?

A new slave arrives and has a story about a livable place beyond the wasteland.

James, That is absolute best answer I've heard yet. I like the way you think, my man.