Obstacles

If things always worked out the way we wanted them to, life would be wonderful. And possibly quite boring…

An obstacle is what comes between the hero and his/her aim. Your work as a screenwriter is to impede your hero, thus forcing him/her to show what he/she is capable of. Think about heroes in films you enjoyed, and how they constantly had to overcome new obstacles. Don’t forget that when there are no more obstacles, the hero has achieved his/her aim and the story is over.

Example Nicolas wants to join his brother in Brittany. But 1) he has no money, 2) he has lost his passport, 3) he has lost his brother’s address, 4) his brother doesn’t want to see him, 5) his parents don’t want him to go, 6) he’s too young to travel alone, 7) he doesn’t speak a word of French, 8) he hates traveling by train, boat and plane, 9) he doesn’t know where Brittany is, 10) he doesn’t want to go alone.

EXERCISE 19 Having defined your hero’s aim, imagine ten obstacles that could come between him/her and the aim. Select the best obstacle and see how your hero faces and overcomes it.

HELP Remember a story is simply an obstacle race that must be run to achieve a goal. Since the choice of words can be important, think obstacle, but also “problem”. An obstacle isn’t necessarily material. It can be a person opposed to the hero (the evil character?). It can be an ethical, religious or moral issue that stops the hero from progressing; it can be an obligation to explain or to justify oneself, or to convince someone.

Everything that in one way or another comes between your hero and his/her aim is an obstacle.