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writing walter White: how to create compelling characters

7/9/2013

17 Comments

 
Call me crazy, but a poorly written protagonist is enough to ruin any screenplay for me. 

The truth is, bad characters will sink any decent script. But good characters are enough to make a mediocre idea truly memorable. 

Most screenwriters would agree with that statement. 

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A good character is memorable. And unique. And complex and interesting. 

(It sounds obvious when you put it that way.)

Here's the thing though... Most screenwriters don't know the fundamentals of creating compelling characters. 

This article will teach you how to write a compelling protagonist in your screenplay.

good characters are experts (in anything)

Audiences want to watch characters that are passionate about life. They want to gain an insight into something or someone completely new, and they want that person to be interesting.

A great way to do this is to make your character an expert in something. Anything. Really.

Walter White is a master chemist. Already that's someone that I want to watch, because that means that Walt is a passionate man. He's driven enough to become an expert at something, so I can assume that he's going to be similarly driven throughout this series.

We're immediately intrigued by Walt because he is the BEST. His story wouldn't be nearly as interesting if he just made okay meth. And he wouldn't be nearly as valuable or dangerous to the people around him if not for his singular abilities.


But your character doesn't have to be an expert in something as intense as chemistry, and they don't have to have their expertise recognized publicly either.

Even 'loser' characters are expert pot smokers, or shop lifters, or whatever.

Ferris Bueller is an expert at skipping school.

"Chasing Amy's" Holden and Banky are expert comic book artists.


At the very least, great characters are experts at being themselves. They have mastered the art of it, and they go through their lives employing the every day tricks they've put in place to make their lives easier.

Make your hero the best at anything he does, and that character will be fun to watch.

good characters are flawed

We watch movies to watch flawed people grow and change and become better for their journey. 

So it follows that good characters begin their stories flawed in a very real and significant way. Your hero's flaw should get him in trouble at every turn. It should motivate the story, and the story you tell should provide ample evidence that he needs to change if he's going to get what he wants.


But be careful when you're thinking about your character's flaw... It's easy to get lazy and decide on a shallow flaw. Here are a few examples of shallow flaws:

- Committment Phobe
- Workaholic
- Liar

When you're crafting a flawed protagonist, you always need to think about what's driving these qualities. Why is John afraid to commit? Why is Sarah always staying late at the office?

Flaws like 'working too much' are symptoms of a deeper disease, like insecurity or maybe ambition. So you have to be very careful when you're diagnosing your hero's flaw.


Walter White is, above all else, prideful. Time and time again, his decisions are motivated by pride. He starts cooking meth to avoid taking money from an old friend, and he keeps cooking meth because he can't stand the idea that someone out there is going to be cooking an inferior product and passing it off as the blue stuff.

Pride is a real flaw. Tons of people have it. Walter White is a case study in it.

Give your hero a deep flaw like that, and you'll have someone worth watching.
And remember... Don't write a perfect character. Nobody's perfect. Nobody wants to see perfect. Perfect is boring.

good characters are active

Walter White never rests. He's always fighting for what he wants. He's always fighting for what he needs. And he's always hungry for more.

He refuses to let anyone else dictate what his life will be like (back to pride again), and he's always fighting for more and more control of his situation.

Your character's decisions, if driven by their flaw, do not always need to be likeable. Walt, for instance, poisons a child to manipulate Jesse Pinkman into murdering Gus. While a tad questionable in the morality department, Walt's choices are undoubtedly active.  

If your character's not that active, look for ways they could be.

And whenever you're at a loss for what your character should do next - look back to their flaw.

Walt fights on behalf of his pride.

What is your character fighting for?

Comment and Share

What else makes Walter White such an amazing character?

Comment with your thoughts, and be sure to share this article with your screenwriting friends on Twitter and Facebook.

17 Comments
Derek Rushlow link
7/10/2013 02:07:31 am

Thank you for this article. My biggest flaw as a screenwriter is character development. You probably knew that already since you've already read a few of my scripts. Ha! But seriously... thank you for the article. It was very helpful.

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Matt link
7/12/2013 08:58:32 am

Characters can be really difficult to write, but they're one of the keys to crafting a great script! Glad the article was helpful for you.

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Brian T
7/10/2013 02:46:34 am

Walter White is also an amazingly complex character, which makes him fascinating to watch. He’s an anti-hero…a protagonist who is both good and bad. And just as a well-written antagonist shouldn’t be all bad (since from their POV their actions are justified), a protagonist who engages in morally questionable actions but who also demonstrate redeeming qualities, does something special to the audience.

Here we have a guy who is struggling to pay the bills, accidentally knocks up his wife, and is diagnosed with terminal cancer. FML. Coupled with the terrific casting of Bryan Cranston, it’s pretty much impossible to not get on board with this characters from episode 1. We feel for WW, we pity him, and his pursuit of money to ensure his family’s financial security is truly admirable. Everything he does is for the good of his family. So at first he’s gotta make some meth and kill a couple gangbangers who were gonna shoot him and Jesse. No issues there. We’re on team Walt 100%.

But as the show journeys into later seasons, we watch Walt become the bad guy. Become a monster. And yet MOST of the time, we the viewers are still rooting for the gun touting, drug pushing, merciless murdering maniac. Because no matter how many murders he commits, we know that Walt Jr is the most important thing to him. That he would (and does) do anything for him. And despite their separation, he still loves his wife as well.

And if you can pull that off as a writer…if you can have your protagonist venture into the dark regions of the soul, and still have the viewers rooting for him/her, then you’ve created an amazing character.

Reply
Script Quack link
8/4/2013 07:46:02 am

Dead on, Brian! Thanks for commenting.

Reply
Sam
12/8/2013 02:50:43 am

The only thing I disagree with in this post is the assessment that all evil characters believe their actions are justified. I think you can create compelling villains who are completely aware of how wrong their actions are. For example, a character could delight in his own sadism. Or conversely, they could be being threatened with their family's murder if they don't kill a man - they know it is wrong, but they're going to do it anyway.

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Henry
7/10/2013 03:39:34 am

Straight to the point.

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MJ
7/10/2013 04:34:18 am

What a great article. I can think of no better, memorable vivid character that Walter Whitel. Layer, upon layer of intrigue. I remember one scene that captures the essence of WW.

At a hospital. Waiting room. All are sitting, speaking softly. Plainly at a loss for words. Then, the table. It's uneven, wobbles. Throughout the entire scene, WW methodically, with acute focus, measures the angle it's off, folds some paper and clinically resolves the imbalance.

Scene reveals more of WW than anything, though consistent with his pride of perfection. But also reveals his flaw. It is as though he cares more of this irritating table than sharing true empathy with those waiting with him. Or, it's simply a mechanism he hides behind to avoid sharubg empathy. Scene tells alot.

Great article/analysis!! Look forward to more of your insight.

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Matt link
7/12/2013 08:59:21 am

Breaking Bad has so many moments like that. Now I'm in the mood to go watch a few episodes!

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Robert Garcia
7/10/2013 10:18:11 am

Good advice, learned a good lesson, never seen the show, but get where he's coming from, can't help but root for him even though I know its wrong. Sort of like I kissed a girl: liked it, hope my boyfriend don't find out.

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Matt link
7/12/2013 09:00:14 am

Haha, yeah, sort of like that. I think the show is available on Netflix. Give it a watch if you get a chance - - it taught us a lot about writing.

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MJ
7/17/2013 03:30:50 am

OMG Robert. You gotta check it out!! I started watching first episode in netflix and then, NEVER STOPPED. Three seasons. And I mean continuous... talk about killing my data streaming limits.

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Script Quack link
8/4/2013 07:44:18 am

Breaking Bad Season 6 starts Sunday, August 11! We can't wait.

Ford Thompson
7/11/2013 11:11:29 am

So good I had to read it twice! Now saved to my favorite article folder. Really great job!

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Matt link
7/12/2013 08:57:53 am

Thanks Ford!

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robert garcia
8/6/2013 12:19:07 am

OMG I did find it on the internet and yes I'm addicted, I'm up to season 3 episode 11 in one week, it's funny though the choices Jesse and Walt make are not what happens in the real world the majority of the time.(example who in their right mind would do anything to jeopardize 1.5 million every three months and not take into account the powerful organization behind that money) But in film the bad choices that one would never make that lead to calamity are what keep the audience on the edge of their seats and tuning in next week to see if the people they're rooting for survived to live another day and in Breaking bad many of them don't.

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K.D. Williams link
1/26/2014 04:02:24 am

Very nice. I enjoyed the idea about making your characters an expert in anything. I will use that advice starting today!

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Monique link
2/18/2021 06:11:20 pm

This is interesting and helpful article. You've generally had the force, my dear, you just needed to learn it for yourself. One kid, one educator, one book, and one pen can change the world. Thanks and God bless!

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