The one universal ingredient in all of Pixar’s movies is HEART. The stories all have a basic human condition, whether they are fish, toys, monsters... they have feelings, wants and needs that are easily relatable to anyone sitting in the theater, young or old. My stories which feature mainly child protagonists experience many heartbreaking circumstances, but in the end, they become stronger from having lived through their challenges. A story should always have a strong moral compass. Without it, audiences will feel as if something went off the beaten path. A story, since the dawn of time, has always travelled through the classic three act structure, example: Character is born, character lives, character dies. It is a natural easily understandable story progression. It’s not a formula, it is life.
love how spontaneous the conversation went, then hooked onto Casablanca, and he made the point very well about the connection of loss to the main character.... impressive
I really needed this video! Something was seriously lacking in my narrator-protagonist, but I never managed to identify what exactly. It was the emotional connection with the reader! Thanks a lot for the awesome content
Some of the best movies, IMO, have no character "transformation". Characters are what they are. The story puts them in a situation in which those characters act in interesting ways. You shouldn't change a character half way through to fit your story, your character is more important, your character should end up shaping up your story. The story should be malleable, the characters not.
@@anthonycarlisle6184 I disagree. People are who they are, absolutely no one in the world changes their core personality from one day to the next, that's unrealistic and done for the simple purpose of plot convenience. Character growth is more important in long running series, where characters might slowly develop new characteristics or facets through time and many many experiences. Or in movies where there are big time skips. If your character is a coward, then someone kills his mother, he'll still be a coward. It's only badly written movies (IMO of course) that say he'll become a revenge machine because he loved her so much. In order for that to happen and be believable, your character must've already been defined as a clearly vengeful guy, and that must be his defining characteristic throughout the fillm, which trumps his other characteristics, such as cowardice. That would force him to "get over" his fear or pull through it for a few moments in order to be what he truly is, but not to "change". Perceived change can be misleading, sometimes it's simply a character revelation. Michael Corleone... seemingly a decent family guy, loves his wife and doesn't want to be in the mafia... his character doesn't really "change", it's revealed. He has always been a cold silent killer. When he kills those guys in the restaurant.... when he tells his wife "I will only let you ask me about my business once, go ahead" "Did you kill my brother?" "No". THAT is Michael, and has always been, and that's why Brando's character wanted him as his succesor. Anyway, that's what I believe.
@@sebaba001 Well, "people are who they are" is just one perspective on humanity - not something that everyone agrees on. I think is was Truby that said the true character is revealed when people are put under pressure [and if they aren't put under pressure at some point, why bother with the story] Just like in real life we might all react differently than the 'self' that we project to ourselves and others in a high pressure situation. The idea that everyone is a fixed personality doesn't hold much water to psychologists. We are all full of repressed impulses. I agree if it's done out of nowhere, it will feel unbelievable to the viewer, but sometimes the foreshadowing is subtle - better that than too on the nose. Plot convenience? You know before you start watching a movie it isn't reality. If you wanted to watch reality, you wouldn't be watching a movie. We want to see people change and overcome challenges to entertain and educate us, and make sense of existence.
@@Ruylopez778 You're contradicting yourself. You're saying one only truly shows who he really is under pressure, then you say people change. Those are two completely different things and it's exactly what I tried to explain with the Corleone example. It's good writing when a character appears to be something but then it's shown who he really is. It's bad writing when a character is something and has been something his entire life then does a complete 360 cause of a stupid little speech. One example of this is Atlantis. A rather likeable movie with that awful script issue, probably one of the reasons it never comes near to other animation classics in terms of critical and fan reception. A group of criminals who have been doing it for 20 years who were all convinced in doing their job are all of the sudden swayed and risk their lives and give everything they can against their long standing boss just cause the main character gave them a little speech talking about personal things they revealed to him. Every time I try to think of good character "change" it's just a revelation. Every time I think of bad changes, it's an actual change. It isn't even about realism, it's about it being believable and convincing. It's about characer traits driving the movie forward.
@@sebaba001 You wrote this: "People are who they are, absolutely no one in the world changes their core personality from one day to the next, that's unrealistic" my reply: "You know before you start watching a movie it isn't reality." Then this: "It isn't even about realism, it's about it being believable and convincing." I know what you mean, but you're not very precise with your terms. "You're contradicting yourself. You're saying one only truly shows who he really is under pressure, then you say people change." I don't see the contradiction. Pressure reveals who they are, in one way or another. Without that revelation they won't change. I didn't say people change without reason. In both fiction and real life, people are capable of change. It's your opinion that they are not. As I see it, the important thing is to describe a character who is understood by the audience to be capable of change from the outset. That is quite a subtle task. So what you judge to be 'bad writing' is merely the writer failing between what they perceive they are communicating, and what the audience actually experiences.
Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles and madness in this world today, God is full of justice, mercy and love. Justice said we broke His perfect law - causing the world's previous perfection to be destroyed - and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don't think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing - regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others - which is murder in God's perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says "the soul that sins shall die" - if we break one in thought/word/deed it's as if we're guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans . The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God's perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn't and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom. If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life. He will help us through the struggle, the stress, and anything we experience in the world. It's about letting Christ in to guide and teach you and obeying Him through His power (not ourselves, we need Him to help us as it's impossible without depending on His power and instruction). He is our substitute in His life, death and resurrection. He essentially rewrote history in our place so that, if you believe in Him, it will be as if you had never sinned if you accept Christ's death as our own in our place. He is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us so that He can take His faithful, believing children home with Him when He returns. He will ressurrect us from death when He returns, giving mercy to those who accept His love, instruction and teachings in their life, and give justice to those who refuse it. He doesn't want ANY of us to go to Hell and die for continuing in evil and rejecting His way to life, thats why He died FOR us. Hes giving EVERYONE a chance, He wants everyone to take the free gift of salvation from Hell. He wants us to be His and begin to follow His life of love and service through His power and abiding (staying) with Him. So long as we keep our hearts near to Christ through His strength, strive to follow His will of perfect love revealed in the Bible, and let Him lead in the midst of (very certain) pitfalls and struggles, we will, in time, win the ultimate victory over sin, pain and DEATH through Christ. Even if you are willing to be made willing, pray for Jesus to come in and He will do what we can't. Give us The Holy Spirit who will guide us in the right way. Christ says in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] - (AMPLIFIED version) NOTE: You are NEVER too sinful or messed up that God cannot turn your life around through Jesus. EVER. Regardless of what you've done or what you're going through you CAN make it through Jesus. X
The one universal ingredient in all of Pixar’s movies is HEART. The stories all have a basic human condition, whether they are fish, toys, monsters... they have feelings, wants and needs that are easily relatable to anyone sitting in the theater, young or old. My stories which feature mainly child protagonists experience many heartbreaking circumstances, but in the end, they become stronger from having lived through their challenges. A story should always have a strong moral compass. Without it, audiences will feel as if something went off the beaten path. A story, since the dawn of time, has always travelled through the classic three act structure, example: Character is born, character lives, character dies. It is a natural easily understandable story progression. It’s not a formula, it is life.
this was more helpful than the clip to me. thanks
Brilliant!!!
Man he nailed it. I love movies that make me feel something.
This guy and the interviewer are both so excellent at their work.
"People go to movies to feel something." - Thank you!!
Love Scott Myers! He packs the house at London Screenwriters' Festival when he's there. :)
One of these days I’m going to watch that movie.
dreaming - You have to watch it NOW! It is great. Another one that is the fastest paced movie of all time is "The Maltese Falcon".
love how spontaneous the conversation went, then hooked onto Casablanca, and he made the point very well about the connection of loss to the main character.... impressive
What is the universal emotional connection of the story you are working on?
Film Courage the feeling of getting what you thought would make you happy only to realize it doesn’t.
I go for hopelessness in most of my stories, but unintentionally. Gonna try to explore other emotions from now on.
Fear of revealing one's true self.
That no one gets out of this hell alive
The need to belong.
I really needed this video! Something was seriously lacking in my narrator-protagonist, but I never managed to identify what exactly. It was the emotional connection with the reader!
Thanks a lot for the awesome content
We hope this breakthrough pays off! Cheers Bruna
He’s so brilliant, and I like his command of language.
Scott is such a great guy and a hard worker. Take a class with him and read his blog. You will learn a lot.
We second this! Thank you for watching.
Great Bogie impression!
the first shrek movie has heart
"Too bad that certain available wisdom is neither realised nor adopted amongst the likes of certain Disney acquisitions "
Thanks!
Bravo!!!
Yay animation 😍
Some of the best movies, IMO, have no character "transformation". Characters are what they are. The story puts them in a situation in which those characters act in interesting ways. You shouldn't change a character half way through to fit your story, your character is more important, your character should end up shaping up your story. The story should be malleable, the characters not.
To me, that makes for one dimensional characters.
Both storyarch & characters should have a malleability congruent to the plot & story progression.
@@anthonycarlisle6184
I disagree. People are who they are, absolutely no one in the world changes their core personality from one day to the next, that's unrealistic and done for the simple purpose of plot convenience.
Character growth is more important in long running series, where characters might slowly develop new characteristics or facets through time and many many experiences. Or in movies where there are big time skips.
If your character is a coward, then someone kills his mother, he'll still be a coward. It's only badly written movies (IMO of course) that say he'll become a revenge machine because he loved her so much. In order for that to happen and be believable, your character must've already been defined as a clearly vengeful guy, and that must be his defining characteristic throughout the fillm, which trumps his other characteristics, such as cowardice. That would force him to "get over" his fear or pull through it for a few moments in order to be what he truly is, but not to "change".
Perceived change can be misleading, sometimes it's simply a character revelation. Michael Corleone... seemingly a decent family guy, loves his wife and doesn't want to be in the mafia... his character doesn't really "change", it's revealed. He has always been a cold silent killer. When he kills those guys in the restaurant.... when he tells his wife "I will only let you ask me about my business once, go ahead" "Did you kill my brother?" "No". THAT is Michael, and has always been, and that's why Brando's character wanted him as his succesor.
Anyway, that's what I believe.
@@sebaba001 Well, "people are who they are" is just one perspective on humanity - not something that everyone agrees on. I think is was Truby that said the true character is revealed when people are put under pressure [and if they aren't put under pressure at some point, why bother with the story]
Just like in real life we might all react differently than the 'self' that we project to ourselves and others in a high pressure situation. The idea that everyone is a fixed personality doesn't hold much water to psychologists. We are all full of repressed impulses.
I agree if it's done out of nowhere, it will feel unbelievable to the viewer, but sometimes the foreshadowing is subtle - better that than too on the nose. Plot convenience? You know before you start watching a movie it isn't reality. If you wanted to watch reality, you wouldn't be watching a movie.
We want to see people change and overcome challenges to entertain and educate us, and make sense of existence.
@@Ruylopez778
You're contradicting yourself. You're saying one only truly shows who he really is under pressure, then you say people change. Those are two completely different things and it's exactly what I tried to explain with the Corleone example. It's good writing when a character appears to be something but then it's shown who he really is. It's bad writing when a character is something and has been something his entire life then does a complete 360 cause of a stupid little speech. One example of this is Atlantis. A rather likeable movie with that awful script issue, probably one of the reasons it never comes near to other animation classics in terms of critical and fan reception. A group of criminals who have been doing it for 20 years who were all convinced in doing their job are all of the sudden swayed and risk their lives and give everything they can against their long standing boss just cause the main character gave them a little speech talking about personal things they revealed to him.
Every time I try to think of good character "change" it's just a revelation. Every time I think of bad changes, it's an actual change. It isn't even about realism, it's about it being believable and convincing. It's about characer traits driving the movie forward.
@@sebaba001 You wrote this: "People are who they are, absolutely no one in the world changes their core personality from one day to the next, that's unrealistic"
my reply: "You know before you start watching a movie it isn't reality."
Then this: "It isn't even about realism, it's about it being believable and convincing."
I know what you mean, but you're not very precise with your terms.
"You're contradicting yourself. You're saying one only truly shows who he really is under pressure, then you say people change."
I don't see the contradiction. Pressure reveals who they are, in one way or another. Without that revelation they won't change. I didn't say people change without reason. In both fiction and real life, people are capable of change. It's your opinion that they are not. As I see it, the important thing is to describe a character who is understood by the audience to be capable of change from the outset. That is quite a subtle task. So what you judge to be 'bad writing' is merely the writer failing between what they perceive they are communicating, and what the audience actually experiences.
Thanks for another great video.
Great interview
Great Content. :)
Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles and madness in this world today, God is full of justice, mercy and love.
Justice said we broke His perfect law - causing the world's previous perfection to be
destroyed - and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don't think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing - regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others - which is murder in God's perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says "the soul that sins shall die" - if we break one in thought/word/deed it's as if we're guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans
. The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God's perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn't and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom.
If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life. He will help us through the struggle, the stress, and anything we experience in the world. It's about letting Christ in to guide and teach you and obeying Him through His power (not ourselves, we need Him to help us as it's impossible without depending on His power and instruction).
He is our substitute in His life, death and resurrection. He essentially rewrote history in our place so that, if you believe in Him, it will be as if you had never sinned if you accept Christ's death as our own in our place.
He is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us so that He can take His faithful, believing children home with Him when He returns. He will ressurrect us from death when He returns, giving mercy to those who accept His love, instruction and teachings in their life, and give justice to those who refuse it.
He doesn't want ANY of us to go to Hell and die for continuing in evil and rejecting His way to life, thats why He died FOR us. Hes giving EVERYONE a chance, He wants everyone to take the free gift of salvation from Hell. He wants us to be His and begin to follow His life of love and service through His power and abiding (staying) with Him. So long as we keep our hearts near to Christ through His strength, strive to follow His will of perfect love revealed in the Bible, and let Him lead in the midst of (very certain) pitfalls and struggles, we will, in time, win the ultimate victory over sin, pain and DEATH through Christ. Even if you are willing to be made willing, pray for Jesus to come in and He will do what we can't. Give us The Holy Spirit who will guide us in the right way.
Christ says in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
- (AMPLIFIED version)
NOTE: You are NEVER too sinful or messed up that God cannot turn your life around through Jesus. EVER. Regardless of what you've done or what you're going through you CAN make it through Jesus.
X