ENGLISH ARTICLE
Hallo and welcome to this new lesson from Scrittissimo: today I want to explain who are Leader Characters and what are they for.
But before starting this lesson there’s something I want to tell you. This article is the translation in English language of another article written by myself in Italian and titled: “Cosa sono i Personaggi Leader e a cosa servono”.
So I do apologize in advance for any translation error, for any English grammar error and for any syntax error.
So, let’s go forward with this lesson! :).
Who are Leader Characters and what are they for
In video lesson number 9, the one dedicated to the difference between Role and Function, I introduced for the first time the concept of Hierarchy of the Cast.
The Hierarchy of the Cast is a technical classification that serves to rank the characters based on the Role played.
Here it is:
As you can see from the image the top is occupied by the Protagonist and the Coprotagonist while the following step is occupied by the Antagonist.
These three types of characters, besides being part of the group of Primary Characters, are what I call Leader Characters.
The meaning is quite clear. The Leader, the word itself says, is a Character who holds leadership in his own hands.
But what does it mean holding the Leadership?
[sgmb id=”1″]
Holding the Leadership doesn’t only mean occupying the highest position compared to the rest of the group. It means – above all – having to make decisions which determines, in turn, a considerable amount of technical responsibility.
In fact the elevated position of the Leader Characters influences and determines:
the trend of the Main Narrative Line
the development and the resolution of the Main Conflict
the fate of the other Cast Characters
the demonstration of the Thematic Message (see lesson nr 11)
These elements are the core of the Story and summarize the great load of technical responsibilities that the Leader Characters hold thanks to their position.
For all these reasons it is important first designing and then subdividing the technical assignements just listed among the Leader Characters in an appropriate manner and in order that you don’t take the risk to assigning to other Cast characters any tasks that don’t belong to them!
It is also essential to build a Characterization that makes Leader Characters charismatic and distinguishable from each other and also from the rest of the Cast members!
And finally, it is advisable to do all this work during the planning of the First Draft so that during the drafting process you don’t waste precious time in continuous revisions.
That’s all for today.
See you soon on the next lesson on Scrittissimo.
Bye Bye
Simona
Author & Admin of SCRITTISSIMO: ideas, techniques and tips to write a Novel, a Tale, a Story.