Post 3: Characterisation

In order to understand characterisation in films I researched the conventional Protagonist and Antagonist:

Protagonist: Usually the main focus of the narrative, the character who plays the largest role in the story, although the protagonist and main character may be played by different characters. Traditionally they were male and a hero-like figure but this has changed as film has evolved to incorporate strong female characters, such as Beatrix Kiddo from the 'Kill Bill' movies.

 

Antagonist: The opponent to the protagonist, they are the opposing force in the plot and often represent or create obstacles that the protagonist has to face. Traditionally, there would be a clearly defined antagonistic force, or villain, and a hero that would have to overcome them. Occasionally the antagonist is not always the villain and their goal is simply to oppose the protagonist.

A clearly defined Hero and Villain

From my logline I have tried to define my protagonist and their antagonist:

'Led by only a star, a traveller tries to return to his child.'

My protagonist is a passionate Swedish photographer, nicknamed 'Pappa', he is middle-aged and married who adores his daughter.

I collected images of what I imagined my protagonist to appear like, his daughter and where he would live
 

I find my character is similar to Janusz Wieszczek, from 'The Way Back' film, as they are both suddenly thrown into finding their way through dangerous terrains.

They both have a similar sense of determination and will-strength but my protagonist is driven by his need to reunite with his family, in this way he is also similar to the character Maria Bennett from 'The Impossible' ,although he has the stars to guide him home.

My antagonist would be the perilous, mountainous area and wild animals that puts my protagonist in danger.

This is an example of my 'antagonist', the frightening force of the mountains

I created an interview with questions designed  by myself and a colleague to help me better  my understanding of my protagonist and  create answers that would develop his unique voice:

Interviewer: What is your name, age and nationality?
Protagonist: I'm known as 'Pappa' by my adorable little girl, I'm 45 years old and Svenska(Swedish) and proud!

Interviewer: What does your daily life consist of?

Protagonist: For my photography I get up very early, before my bebis(baby) girl has rose, and head out on location. I'll spend the whole day and often a good part of the night out there, getting the shots I need. My wife, bless her, takes care of things at home and I only get to spend time with them a few days a week.
 

Interviewer: What is important to you in life?

Protagonist: My family. Without a doubt, I would be nothing without them, my daughter means everything to me.

Interviewer: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Protagonist: Haha! This is hard...my weakness might be my daughter, but she and my wife are also my strength.
 

Interviewer: You live in a quiet area, is this because of preference or for a reason?
Protagonist: Actually I used to live in a city; there I met my wife. She wanted to re-locate to a smaller area so we ended up in a village much further away, it is gorgeous here, my daughter loves it. I prefer the quiet here and there is some beautiful scenery.
 

Interviewer: Have you travelled much in your past? As a photographer, you must have?
Protagonist: I have not been a photographer all my life, only since I moved to the village have I taken it seriously. I used to go camping in the south but I have never travelled outside of Sverige(Sweden).
 

Interviewer: Why photography? What section of photography to you specialise in?
Protagonist: I enjoy capturing moments of happiness and beauty and a camera lets me do this. Recently I have loved taking landscapes, especially in the snowy mountains and forests.

 

I also researched Vladimir Propps Theory of Narrative wherein he formed a selection of character types from folktales. His list of types, however, can also be seen in films and characters can fulfil more than one type:

The villain—struggles against the hero

The donor—prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object

The (magical) helper—helps the hero in the quest

The princess and her father—gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished

The dispatcher—character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

The hero or victim/seeker hero—reacts to the donor, weds the princess

False hero—takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

This list I found from this website: http://www.ealmanac.com/3114/numbers/the-seven-character-types-of-vladimir-propp/

 

If I were to apply Propps theory to my characters, my main character would be the Hero, the Donor the daughter as she wishes upon the stars for his safety, the Helper the stars, the Princess the main character's family and the Dispatcher and Villain the mountainous environment; it created and enforces my character's problem against the elements.