Blog Post #5 Creating Likable Characters

 To keep my audience engaged for 5 minutes I must create a likable character who you can route for. This is a skill I must adapt as in my previous works, most notably my opening scene for The Second Reign, you didn't necessarily route for any of the characters, as they were throw away kills, and my film lacked the development to make them interesting. So I will be looking at some of my personal favorite film characters, and diving into why exactly I connect with them, and what techniques where used to create them. 

Jake Sully - Avatar series (2009-2025)

Jake Sully was a marine paraplegic veteran, who got to use the RDA's Avatar program on Pandora, where he could inherit the body of a native to Pandora. Jake is presented with a task of exploiting the native Na'vi so that the RDA can mine Unobtanium from their home, but while pursuing this Jake explores Pandora, learns the ways and become a member of the Na'vi, presented with a choice Jake chooses to fight for Pandora against the RDA preserving the planet of its vast resources.

Robocop/ Alex Murphy - Robocop series (1987-1993)

Alex Murphy was a father and cop whom was declared shot to death in the line of duty by Clarence Boddicker. However while his family was informed he was deceased, the OCP saved what they could of his body and used him to create Robocop. Robocop becomes the ultimate law enforcement officer, even better then he was intended to be, as he went on to investigate the very foundation that created him, to find they were corrupt working alongside the very same gang who gunned him down.

Sarah Connor - Terminator series (1984-2019)

Sarah Connor is an ordinary woman, who is hunted down by a Terminator from the future. Kyle Reese helps her avoid the Terminator and informs her on who she will become in the future, and that she will birth John Connor, the man that leads the resistance to victory against Skynet. After defeating the Terminator Sarah went on to fight against Skynet to prevent Judgment day and the end of the world.

Looking at all 3 of these characters, one major similarity I have noticed is they all are relatable characters, While Jake Sully is an alien, and Robocop is a cyborg law officer, they both started out as regular humans. For example in Avatar I find you connect with Jake Sully the most as he's not trained in the Avatar program, and is experiencing everything for the first time as an amateur; its easy for the audience to connect with him as they are new to Pandora aswell. In Terminator Sarah Connor is like any other woman until she is thrown into a battle for her life, aswell as Alex Murphy piecing together how to live in his new body. These characters stand out to the audience not just because they are cool or fantastical, but mainly because they are relatable and we can easily envision ourselves in their shoes. Not to mention each character has a personal and conflicting goal; ether to save their planet, serve justice, or save themselves and others.

I will be sure to create a grounded and relatable protagonist for my film, with a clear and personal goal the audience can connect with.