Interesting, well-rounded characters with concise do-or-die goals that pit the protagonist against the antagonist is what we strive for as writers.  Our hero needs to stride purposefully toward her goal, as our protagonist marches diligently in the opposite direction, ultimately placing our characters in a head-to-head challenge as solid as Dr. Seuss’ North-Going Zax meeting the South-Going Zax.

Unlike the single-minded Zax however, our characters need to be well-rounded and relatable. Even if we do not like the antagonist, in the best-constructed stories we should be able to empathize with him.  Consider the unlikely example of the comic book film Spider-Man and the antagonist Doc Ock, who begins the film as a friend and mentor to Peter Parker. Later, after his invention kills his wife, Doc Ock fixates on perfecting the contraption no matter what, thus creating an empathetic psychopath and someone with whom we can grieve, while hoping he is defeated by his equal and formidable opponent, the protagonist Spider-Man. 

While conflict can be huge in the form of bombs and destruction, it can also be small yet powerful. Examine your favorite drama or comedy (romantic or not). The ultimate conflict might erupt in a courtroom (My Cousin Vinnie or A Few Good Men), in a workplace (Gattaca, Dave, and American President), or in the neighbor’s living room (A Little Princess). The protagonist is the reluctant hero who finds that he or she must take on the challenge at all costs, even if the challenge is as simple as taking steps toward growing beyond your crippling OCD to help a neighbor and a friend (As Good As It Gets) or deciding to free a friend (E.T.).

In screenwriting, we also have specific parameters that we need to follow as we correctly format our script, since one page of screenplay equals about one minute of film.  I am happy to share with you a formatting document I've created for my students; contact me here if you'd like a copy.

You'll notice that this blog also appears on my GreenChairPictures.blogspot site, which I may retire soon. I am trying to determine which place is better to publish my blogs as I begin posting with regularity again.

While working with my junior high mentee last winter, she asked about a local legend: the Ghost of Ocean Born Mary. "Who was Mary?" she wondered.

Our research on the internet, at the local library, and at the town's historical society turned up more than just information about the Widow Mary Wallace; we also learned about the huckster who moved to town in 1917 and proceeded to spin a number of yarns about the Ghost of Ocean Born Mary who allegedly haunted the home he shared with his mother.

As an internationally-recognized photographer, Louis Maurice Auguste "Gussie" Roy knew his way around the press. During the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, stories of the ghost who haunted his Henniker home were published across the country. At the height of his publicity campaign, as many as a hundred tourists could be seen queuing up to take the famous Ghost Tour.

Wanting to share the juicy details with others, we decided a stage play would be the best presentation. Thus was born "The Ghost & Gussie Roy." Coincidentally, we were also able to whip the play into shape by the 200th anniversary of Mary Wallace's death: Feb. 13. It will be featured as a staged reading on Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Henniker.

What's next? We hope to see the play fully staged, of course. And we're considering co-writing a screenplay for a film about Gussie Roy and his Ghost, which would be filmed and released in time to celebrate Ocean Born Mary's 300th birthday in 2020.