Sulai Sivadel

The most important character in your screenplay is your protagonist: your hero. But when creating your hero, audience connection is key. Your hero needs to be an interesting somebody who wants something badly and is having trouble getting it, AND also a somebody that the audience cares about – somebody they hope and fear for. But when creating a complex character, simply knowing what's beneath the tip of the iceberg is not enough. In order for your audience to be emotionally invested with your hero, you must also (1.) know the hero’s goals and dreams, (2.) be aware of…

Screenplay Genre: Crime / Mystery / Romance Movie Time: 128 minutes 1. INCITING INCIDENT John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart), a San Francisco detective who suffers from Vertigo, is hired by his old friend Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore) to shadow his wife Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) who has been acting as if she’s possessed. Later that evening, when John surreptitiously first lays eyes on Madeleine Elster, it is clear that he is strongly affected by her. (00:17:15)