Structuring with Character Arcs

Rather than structuring stories with the traditional Setup-Conflict-Resolution method, or the Robert McKee Act-as-obstacle system, I've found it more helpful to base the architecture of my screenplays on character arcs.

This system works as follows:

1. There are at least one or more characters in your movie.

2. Each major character has an arc; typically an inner or outer dilemma that must be overcome (the best dilemmas are BOTH inner and outer).

3. The script is then structured in such a way that major plot points in the script become focal points wherein the various characters' arcs are developed, advanced, and sometimes resolved.

One of the reasons that this structuring method is so powerful, is that as the characters begin to take on a life of their own, they literally drive the plot themselves. Thus, instead of trying to figure out how to mechanically get from Point A to Point B to overcome Obstacle X or achieve Objective Y, the process becomes "What feels right for this character? What should they do at this moment? Based on their previous conduct, does it make more sense for them to succeed or to fail at what it is they're trying to do at this moment in the story?" What I find is that, as long as the characters have been compellingly drawn, the answer usually presents itself (for more on this theme, see the last few paragraphs of my earlier post, "Why Most Action Movies Fail.")

This method works especially well if you are cognizant of the fact that it is chiefly the actions and decisions of the characters that drive the story, as opposed to, say, random occurrences, bad/good luck, or external forces.

The funny thing is, once you become aware of this method, you'll find that most great films are structured this way. In fact, that's how I discovered this system...by breaking down my favorite movies to see how they were structured, and how the various character arcs in those films drove that structure.

For instance, let's take a look at Star Wars, in which I have been able to discern at least six character arcs (or sub-plots) in addition to the main or "master" plot:

1. Master Plot: Rebellion versus Empire
2. Luke. Goal: to gain self-worth
3. Obi-Wan. Goal: to ensure the survival of the Rebellion, and pass on the Jedi tradition
4. Leia. Goal: to save the Rebellion and destroy the Empire
5. Han Solo. Goal: to get rich quick.
6. Tarkin. Goal: to destroy the Rebellion
7. Vader. Goal: firstly, to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi. Secondly, to destroy the Rebellion.

Below is a detailed chart which denotes the progress of these arcs throughout the film. You will notice that the arcs are resolved in very different ways; some goals are achieved, others fail, and some remain unresolved. But they all evolve and change in dramatic ways throughout the film, especially during dramatic and climactic moments:

	GOAL	START of ARC	PART 1 of ARC	PART 2 of ARC	RESOLUTION
MASTER PLOT: Rebellion Versus Empire	Empire seeks to crush Rebellion using DEATH STAR. Rebellion seeks to overthrow Empire using STOLEN BATTLE PLANS.	Droids escape with stolen battle plans, which contain the Empire’s Achilles Heel, and could give Rebels the power to destroy the Empire. At the same time, Empire is building the Death Star which can wipe out the Rebellion.	Heroes attempt to return the stolen battle plans to Princess Leia, but are captured.	Heroes save Princess Leia and escape with stolen battle plans.	Using the stolen battle plans, the heroes are able to annihilate Death Star, at the same time saving the Rebellion and nearly destroying the Empire.
LUKE: Pure-hearted Hero.	To gain self-worth. Luke thinks he can accomplish this by joining the heroic Rebellion against the Empire	Dissatisfied with his boring rural life, Luke finally finds the means to attain his goal when he obtains the stolen Battle Plans thru R2D2, and is invited to join forces with Obi-Wan Kenobi and learn the ways of the force.	Luke trains in the (almost forgotten) ways of the Force under Obi-Wan Kenobi, and takes his first step to become a Jedi Knight.	Luke manages to convince Han and others to help him save Princess Leia, leader of the Rebellion. “I’m Luke Skywalker— I’m here to rescue you.” They escape.	Using the ancient powers of the Force, Luke destroys the dreaded Death Star, becoming the hero of the Rebellion, and fulfilling his role as the next and newest generation of Jedi Knights and finally attaining self-worth.
OBI-WAN: Wise Mentor.	As one of the last Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan wishes to overthrow the Empire and pass on the Force to a new generation.	Having lived in exile as a hermit, Obi-Wan finally gets the opportunity (thru Luke Skywalker) to return to the World and aid the Rebellion by returning the stolen Battle Plans.	Along the journey, Obi-Wan begins passing on the ancient tradition of the Force to the new generation (Luke).	Obi-Wan fulfills his mission to save the princess by sacrificing himself in mortal combat with Darth Vader.	The spirit of Obi-Wan fulfills his original goal by aiding Luke Skywalker in his attack on the Death Star, and by convincing him to embrace THE FORCE.
LEIA: Noble-minded Heroine.	To save the Rebellion and destroy the Empire	Leia manages to obtain the Stolen Battle plans, which have the power to destroy the Death Star. Leia hides the plans with the two droids who escape.	Leia is captured, but successfully resists all attempts by the Empire to obtain from her the location of the Rebel Base.	Leia manages to escape the clutches of the villains with the aid of the Heroes.	Leia returns the Stolen Battle Plans, allowing Luke to destroy the Empire, and fulfilling her goal to save the Rebellion.
HAN: Anti-hero; a morally ambiguous helper	To get rich quick	Han gets his chance to gain money when Obi-Wan offers him a generous amount of money to transport he and Luke to Alderaan.	Heroes are captured. Han is reluctant to help save the Princess (wanting only to save himself), but gets an even greater shot at wealth when Luke suggests he will get a handsome reward for saving the Leia. He decides to briefly align himself with the heroes.	Having successfully saved Leia, Han gets his reward, but spurns the chance to further aid the Rebellion against the Empire.	Han has a change of heart, and arrives in the nick of time to aid Luke against Darth Vader. They destroy the Death Star. Han’s original goal has changed…he has chosen the path of heroism over money and self-gain.
TARKIN: Main Villain.	To destroy the Rebellion	Tarkin’s goal is thwarted when the Battle Plans are stolen. He sends his minions to search for the plans on Tatooine.	Tarkin attempts to discover the location of the Rebellion from Princess Leia, so that he can destroy it using the DEATH STAR.	Having been thwarted in all his plans, Tarkin allows heroes to escape— so that he can track them to the hidden Rebel Base.	Having discovered the hidden Rebel Base, Tarkin attempts to destroy them with the Death Star. However, at the last minute, the Death Star is destroyed before this can be accomplished.
VADER: Servant of the Main Villain, and the mentor’s nemesis.	Firstly, to destroy Obi-Wan Kenobi. As an afterthought, he also wishes to destroy the Rebellion.	Vader attempts to destroy the Rebellion by recovering the stolen Battle Plans and interrogating Leia, so that he can discover the location of the hidden Rebel Base.	Vader is diverted from his attempt to crush the Rebellion when he senses the presence of Obi-Wan, his old Nemesis.	Vader searches out Obi-Wan and slays him in a duel, thinking he has accomplished his goal. However, Vader is stunned to observe Obi-Wan’s body vanishing like a spirit into thin air.	Vader engages Luke in an aerial duel, but is thwarted by Han Solo’s return and by Luke’s use of THE FORCE. In the end, his goal remains unfulfilled. Obi-Wan’s spirit has survived to aid the Rebellion, destroy the Death Star, and pass the Force onto Luke.

In the future, we'll examine other popular, classic films to see how they utilize this system.