Working on my first screenplay

Lonnie said:

and I have a few questions. In the first act the main character is the primary focus and is in every scene. In the second act I want to introduce another character and put some of the focus on him. I basically want to spilt the story between the two from here. What are some good ways to do this without taking too much away from the main character?

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May I suggest first of all not doing this. Then I would suggest ignoring me becuase you have your own vision.

But really...I would maybe think of using some type of cliff hanger. Keep your main character in the back of everyone's mind with a dramatic end to the first act. ie. they get hurt, a life changing event of some type. Weave the two stories together.

Hmm, real tough question to answer. Especially since no one knows anything about the story and characters except you.

I know I'd probably feel puzzled if the first act follows only one guy, then 30 minutes later we abandon him and pick up on other characters we haven't seen before. I don't doubt there are precedents, that other scripts/films have done this and gotten away with it. But it does feel odd, in a dangerous way.

Shrug, it's just a feeling.

The other characters you're talking about... does your main character meet them during the first act? Or are they strangers? Just asking.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

Well the two storeis really go together. I mean the character in the second act is part of the main character dramatic need. (well comedic because this is a comedy) I don't want to take to much focus off the main character though. In the first act the main character is basically in every scene. In the second act the focus is going to spread between maybe three chracters.

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I'm having the same feelings as everyone else. Like Dp said, without knowing some of the story it's difficult to give a solid opinion.

I have a few concerns about this.

First, you said that the character in the second act is part of the main character's dramatic need. My thought on this is that maybe you should introduce the second earlier on so that it doesn't feel like he or she just came out of nowhere.

Another concern is that if your second character isn't introduced until the second act, then maybe your first act is dragging a bit. (I can't know for sure of course), but normally by the first act your reader or audience know all the key players, they know where the story is heading, and what it is your main character needs or wants.

That last thing that bothers me is that you said in the second act the focus changes from the main character to the second character. IMO, I would not do this. First, it could become confusing and put a huge dent in your script. Traditionally the story is about your main character. In the first act we get to know this person, we become this person, we know what the goal is, we become sympathetic to this person's wants and needs. At the end of Act one, we have a pretty good idea of what it is the main character needs to do to gain his/her goal and the conflicts that stand in his way. To be yanked out and thrust into someone else's shoes just as the good stuff starts to happen, would be some what disappointing. You wouldn't only be changing the focus of the character but of the story. The story would no longer be about your main character, but becomes about your second character, his/her needs, wants, conflicts.

Just my thoughts. But like said, I don't know your story. My suggestion would be to read some scripts that resemble your own, not necessarily a comedy, but any script that introduces a second character in the second act. Might give you the answers your looking for.

Hope it helps.

Steph

Have you thought about...

Starting with some occurence that involves all the characters, then back track and explain how they reached that point. If you do it right you could avoid give away the ending. You know, end up where you started and finish the story. Like the beginning of Saving Private Ryan.

Just an idea.

Razor

"Lonnie." Good name. I've got one just like it.

I'd think it difficult to determine if you should put off showing your second major character that far into the script. Then again, it worked perfectly well for Pscyho.

Still, typically you'd want to introduce your vital characters relatively early on so that the reader can get an idea of who they are and their relationship to one another. The first act is setting up the story, the second act is moving the story forward; waiting until the second act to set up that character would likely make the story seem as though the first act is dragging.

My two cents.