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The Unknown Screenwriter » The Unknown Screenwriter Forum

16. 

    Rut.Biton
    Member

    Reputation:17

     

    I'm a totally newbie, so forgive me. Does the antagonist need to be a person? I mean, can it be a concept? I am writing something based on my own experience as an American expatriate married to an Israeli. Moroccan Israeli, at that. Sort of a combo of Greek Wedding but darker stuff as in Who wants to be a Millionaire.

    It obviously isn't hollywood mainstream, but I hope it is moving and right on the mark in certain messy areas of life as a Jew.

    So, back to my question, can the antagonist be a concept such as secular humanism vs traditional religion? Or must it be a person or persons who represent these conflicting ideals?

    I hope that makes sense. If not, an example: in the US, religion is very much at least outwardly, respected. One sees someone with a red dot on the forehead, a turban, or a cross and they're ok. We work side-by-side with all walks of people who's religious notions have no bearing on their ability to do my taxes or be my doctor, etc. that isn't to say whispers and jokes don't occur, but we're kind enough, cool enough and liberal enough to hide it, LOL.

    However, here in Israel, we are indeed well-known as a vocal and outspoken people. If someone thinks I'm silly and brainwashed for being a RELIGIOUS Jew, in any professional setting, including teaching (gasp) they will clearly let that message be known. Shocking, at least to me - a nice gal from California who figures people will believe, or not, whatever they will.

    So, must I have one person represent this tension? It is an obstacle to the protagonist's journey, afterall. Or can I let the accumulated effect of the bulk of the message from many sources BE my antagonist?

    Hope that makes sense and many many thanks to your wonderful site. After reading it most of the day, I'm feeling hopeful I might, MIGHT, be able to pull this off. I hope.
    rut

    Posted 5 months ago #
17. 

    Rut.Biton
    Member

    Reputation:17

     

    Oops, I'm tired. I meant to say: Slumdog Millionaire.

    Good night-
    r

    Posted 5 months ago #
18. 

    Unk
    Key Master

    Reputation:50

     

    Rut.Biton,

    No... Your antagonist doesn't have to be a person. If you write it correctly, it can be damn near ANYTHING you want it to be.

    You don't have to have one person represent the tension but again... Depends on how you write it. The forces of antagonism must be clear... If you can make it clear WITHOUT the character, so be it.

    Unk

    The Unknown Screenwriter

    Posted 5 months ago #
19. 

    snoozn
    Member

    Reputation:1

     

    Rut.Biton, it is hard for me to see how you would represent a concept like "humanism vs. religion" without having these concepts embodied in one or more characters. Discussions of tolerance and religion and secular humanism are interesting (to me, anyway!) but in a movie, I wouldn't really want to see people just sitting around discussing these things. If you were going to do a movie examining the life of an American in Israel, I (as an audience member) would want to see how she is treated by the various people she interacts with and how her views (and their views) change or don't change through their interaction. I guess maybe your problem is that you don't want there to be one particular "bad guy." I think you can make this clear through the actions of minor characters showing that the antagonist is a product of his/her culture, rather than an individually "antagonistic" person.

    Posted 5 months ago #
20. 

    Rut.Biton
    Member

    Reputation:17

     

    Thanks very much to both of you. Clearly my idea isn't hollywood blockbuster, but it might have a home somewhere - perhaps only in the israeli market. It isn't solely about religion, but it's a strong element in a life. Believe it or not, it's actually comedic (or i hope it to be) with some dark patches.

    I am glad to hear I might be able to pull this off with a series of interactions that demonstrate that, like life, we don't always have just one antagonist. We may face a concept, an obstacle, in the guise of many characters. Powerful characters. i think it'd be one-dimensional to show Mr. Bad-guy Always Being a Jerk, when in a film about a Jewish journey we are all confronted with people who either support or detract and it isn't just one-sided. I hope to show gray- lots of messy gray.

    OK, off to more learning from your inspiring site. Oh gosh, what to click on next?
    kol tov as we say,
    rut

    Posted 5 months ago #

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