Filmmaking / Directing

11. What are the Character's Actions and Behaviors?

The main actions of a character in a story refer to the significant decisions, behaviors, and events that define their journey and contribute to the overall story which are crucial for character development and plot progression. How do the character’s actions and decisions drive the plot? Are their actions consistent with their motivations and personality? Consistent actions reinforce a character’s personality and motivations, while significant actions can drive plot developments. For example:

a. Climactic Actions: (Determine the outcome of a conflict.) These actions occur at the story’s peak, where the character confronts the central conflict head-on. They are decisive and impactful, often determining the resolution of the main plot and the fate of the characters involved.

b. Conflict Actions: (In response to challenges and obstacles.) These actions showcase the character's responses and strategies when faced with difficulties. They reveal the character's strengths, weaknesses, and adaptability, driving the plot and deepening the tension.

c. Everyday Actions: (Establish the character’s normal world.) These actions depict the routine and environment of the character, providing a basis for their personality and lifestyle. They help the audience understand the character's current life before any significant changes occur.

d. Initiating Actions: (Set the character’s journey in motion.) These actions disrupt the character's normal world, introducing the central conflict or challenge that propels the story forward. They are crucial for transitioning the characters from their ordinary life into the main story.

e. Resolution Actions: (Tie up loose ends and conclude the character’s arc.) These actions bring closure to the character’s journey, resolving any remaining subplots and providing a satisfying conclusion. They reflect the changes the character has undergone and establish their new normal.

f. Transformative Actions: (Lead to significant personal growth or change.) These actions highlight moments of self-discovery, realization, or significant shifts in the character’s behavior or beliefs. They are pivotal for illustrating the character's development and evolution throughout the story.

12. What are the Character's Strengths and Weaknesses?

What are the character’s positive traits and skills? What are their flaws and limitations? This balance of strengths and weaknesses adds depth and realism to the character. Strengths can include talents, virtues, and skills, while weaknesses might involve fears, flaws, or personal challenges. A well-rounded character exhibits both, making them more relatable and engaging. Characters with clear strengths and weaknesses can undergo significant development as they leverage their strengths and confront their weaknesses throughout the story.

13. What is the Character's Physical Appearance?

How do they look, and how does their appearance affect how others perceive them? Consider their clothing, body language, facial expressions, and any distinctive features that might reveal aspects of their personality, status, or background. The way a character carries themselves can offer insight into their confidence, insecurities, or emotional state, influencing how other characters and the audience respond to them. Their appearance might evolve throughout the story, symbolizing character growth or internal change. Physical traits can also create a visual contrast between characters, further emphasizing their roles or conflicts within the story.

14. How does the Character Speak?

What is distinctive about the character’s dialogue and manner of speaking? Does their speech reveal anything about their personality or background? Dialogue is a key tool for character development and can reveal much about a character’s inner life and social context. Unique speech patterns, vocabulary, and tone can distinguish a character and provide insights into their background and personality. The way a character speaks can also evolve, reflecting changes in their perspective or circumstances. This evolution in speech can indicate growth, shifts in status, or changes in relationships, adding depth to the character’s arc. This may signal a shift in their confidence or worldview, especially as they experience growth or confront challenges throughout the story.

15. What are the Character's Values and Beliefs?

What does the character believe in? What are their moral and ethical standpoints? Values and beliefs shape the character’s decisions and interactions with others. Understanding these can explain why a character behaves in certain ways and how they might react in various situations. Values and beliefs often form the core of a character’s identity and can be challenged or reinforced through the story’s events. These principles guide the character’s actions and choices, providing a consistent framework that influences their interactions and the overall story arc. When a character's beliefs are tested, it can lead to pivotal moments of inner conflict or transformation, driving their development forward.

16. What are the Character's Backstory and History?

What significant events from the past have shaped the character? How does their history influence their present actions? A rich backstory adds depth and context, making the character more believable. Past experiences can provide motivations, fears, and attitudes that drive present actions and decisions. Exploring a character’s history helps in understanding their current behavior and anticipating their future choices. This backstory also helps to explain the character's strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, creating a more layered and intriguing portrayal.

17. How does the Character Change Throughout the Story?

What personal growth or transformation do they undergo? This transformation is typically driven by the challenges they face and the decisions they make, leading them to develop new perspectives, overcome internal conflicts, or achieve deeper self-awareness. Each character’s evolution is crucial to the story, as it not only drives the plot forward but also allows the audience to connect with their journey on a deeper level.

18. How does the Character Relate to other Characters?

The character's relationships with others are pivotal in shaping their journey and personal development. Their interactions can reveal much about their personality, values, and internal struggles, whether through alliances, friendships, or rivalries. These dynamics influence the story by driving the character's decisions and actions, often leading to key plot developments or emotional turning points that propel the story forward.

19. What External Conflicts Does the Character Face?

The character's external conflicts are the obstacles or antagonists that stand in the way of their goals. These conflicts can take many forms, such as physical challenges, societal pressures, or direct opposition from other characters. Overcoming these external obstacles is essential to the plot, as it drives the action and forces the character to adapt, learn, and grow in response to the challenges they encounter.

NEXT ARTICLE: 30 Questions to Ask About EACH Character (pt3)

Hi everyone, I’m posting here because I suspect the kind of person I’m looking for may come more from filmmaking and directing than from the startup world.

I’m a Spanish app builder based in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Over the last 10+ years I’ve built products across mobile apps, AI, design, and backend, and I already have multiple apps launched.

What I’m looking for now is a filmmaker / director / creative storyteller with founder energy. Someone who understands how to shape attention (through concept, framing, tone, pacing, performance, and emotional clarity) and who knows how to make people care quickly. For the right fit, this is a true co-founder role with equal equity, vesting, and shared ownership in what we create together.

I build apps fast. What I want is a creative partner who can help turn those apps into stories and videos people actually want to watch.

That means studying what works in short-form and social storytelling, developing concepts around our products, making a lot of content, being on camera yourself or directing the right people, and helping shape how ideas are presented to the world. If a concept starts resonating, we go deeper and build more around it.

What makes this interesting to me is that it’s not just a content gig and not just a one-off collaboration. It’s a chance to build something long-term where storytelling is not an afterthought — it becomes part of how products grow, how audiences form, and even how new ideas get discovered.

Remote is totally fine. But for the right fit, I also have lodging available in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, for someone who’d want to collaborate more closely in person.

If you’re a filmmaker or director who feels excited by the idea of building something real around storytelling, I’d love to hear from you.

Amazon MGM just gave a tiny update on the next James Bond at CinemaCon. Courtenay Valenti (head of film) basically said: "We know you're all wondering who's playing Bond. We're taking our time. That film is coming." The big news? Denis Villeneuve is directing, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing, and Steven Knight writing. That's a pretty stacked team.

No casting announcement yet. No release date. Just a promise that they're doing this "with care and deep respect."

Honestly, after the Buffy reboot got killed and the Disney-OpenAI deal fell apart, it's kind of nice to hear a studio say "we're being careful" instead of rushing something out. Bond fans are intense, so getting this wrong would be a disaster. Who do you want as the next Bond? And does Villeneuve feel like the right fit?

Read about it here: https://deadline.com/2026/04/amazon-mgm-courtenay-valenti-james-bond-fil...

A lot of stories around mental health and addiction stop at what’s visible.

What interests me is what’s underneath—

identity, perception, and the internal reality people don’t see.

That’s the space I’m building in.

Something grounded in real experience…

but shaped in a way that feels cinematic.

Still early, but focused on building it the right way.

Open to thoughts, conversations, or potential collaborations—especially with people interested in creating work that feels real and can positively impact the stigma around mental health and addiction.

This week, I’ve been challenging myself with Cannes prep.

Preparing for a major festival and market like Cannes is its own undertaking for anyone attending, but even more so when I’m there representing Stage 32 as an official education partner of the Marché du Film.

Just like anyone else attending should be doing, I’ve been deep in research, looking into companies, executives, and creatives who will be attending, setting meetings in advance, and thinking strategically about how to make the most of every in-person interaction. These are connections that are often impossible to replicate outside of a space like Cannes, so preparation matters.

At the same time, I’m also getting ready for everything Stage 32 has planned, events, panels, and meetups around the Palais. We’ll be sharing all the details on the Stage 32 blog over the next few weeks, so definitely keep an eye out for that!

And then there’s the practical side of it all, travel prep.

Cannes is a tricky beast, especially when you’re there for just over a week and constantly on the move. Here are a few essentials I’ve learned to prioritize:

- Comfortable shoes, truly non-negotiable. Closed-toe, sandals, and something formal, all with as much arch support as possible. Your feet will thank you. When you're at Cannes, you're on your feet for days. The shoes you're wearing have the power to make or break you within a matter of hours!

- Business casual and professional layers. The weather can shift quickly, and you rarely have time to go back and change during the day. Looking professional and put together is so important, but being able to remove or add layers depending on the temperature changes is key.

- Sunblock, sunglasses, and hand sanitizer.

- Power banks. Your phone will be working overtime. Make sure you have extra power banks charged each night and at the ready with you every day.

- Compression socks. I’m serious, they make a difference. Again, your feet will thank you.

- At least one formal outfit for premieres or black-tie events. Cannes has strict dress codes, and you want to be ready if the opportunity comes up.

- Business cards, digital or physical, to stay connected.

- Good headphones for travel days.

There’s a lot that goes into it, but the goal is to set yourself up so you can be fully present once you’re there.

If you’re attending Cannes this year, I would love to know! Jump into the comments below and share your Cannes goals with us. And be sure to RSVP for the Stage 32 Meetup here:

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/2070/Cannes-Film-Festival-2026-Stage-32-...

Now I want to hear from you. What are you doing this week to challenge yourself to learn and grow?

Today I heard something about producing that stayed with me: that a producer’s real mission isn’t just finding financing but stepping into the role of a CEO. And it made me reflect on the parallel truth for directing:

A director isn’t just “guiding performances” or “choosing shots.”

A director is the keeper of the vision, the emotional CEO of the story.

Directing means:

✔ Holding the emotional through-line of the film

✔ Translating the script into a living, breathing world

✔ Aligning every department toward the same heartbeat

✔ Making a thousand decisions a day while staying open to discovery

✔ Protecting the story’s soul when chaos inevitably arrives

✔ Leading with clarity, empathy, and intention

It’s creative, yes, but it’s also leadership, communication, psychology, logistics, and stamina.

And because of that, every director I know faces a moment where the craft and the responsibility collide.

What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in your filmmaking or directing journey right now?

Is it creative? Logistical? Emotional? Strategic?

And what kind of support or clarity would help you move through it?

1. Who is the Character? (What is their background history?)

   What is the character's name, age, gender, occupation, and background? These basic details establish the character’s identity and context within the story. A character’s background can include their family history, education, and significant life events, which shape their personality and worldview. Their background can influence their motivations and how they interact with other characters and the plot, adding layers of depth to their role in the story.

   2. What is the Character’s Spine?

   The character spine refers to the core motivation or driving force behind the main character's actions and decisions throughout the story. The character spine is what gives the character depth and complexity, as it reveals their inner desires and drives. What are their short-term and long-term goals? Their spine includes their overall goal or objective, the actions they take to achieve it, and the obstacles they encounter along the way. The spine also reflects the character's evolution and how they respond to various challenges and conflicts in the story.

   3. What is their Super-Objective? (The main needs of the character)

   The super-objective is the main need or desire that the character is striving to fulfill throughout the story. It is often related to their emotional or psychological growth and can be seen as the main goal that drives their actions and decisions. The super-objective provides a clear focus for the character's journey and helps to shape the overall story arc. Understanding the super-objective can clarify the character's motivations and highlight their personal stakes in the story’s outcome. Their super-objective often ties into the main themes of the story and the character's development.

   4. What are the Character's Scene Objectives? (What do they want?)

   What does the character want to achieve in every scene? The objective is the specific goal or desire that the main character is actively pursuing in a particular scene or moment. It is what the character wants in that specific context and often involves making active choices or taking decisive action to achieve it. The objective can change from scene to scene as the character faces new challenges and encounters new obstacles. These objectives drive the character’s immediate actions and reactions, influencing the scene's dynamics and progression. Each scene objective contributes to the character’s overall journey and development.

   5. What are the Character's Primary Motivations (Desires and Goals?)

   Why does the character want to achieve these objectives? What are their deeper desires, fears, and needs? What do they want most in life, and how do they plan to achieve it? Exploring the character’s motivations provides insight into their actions and decisions. Motivations are often rooted in a character’s past experiences, personal values, and emotional needs, adding depth and complexity to their behavior. This understanding can clarify why characters behave in certain ways and helps to predict their future actions.

   6. What is the Character's Role in the Plot?

   How do they contribute to the main plot and subplots? This helps clarify their importance and function within the story structure. Each character has specific functions and influences the plot in distinct ways. Protagonists drive the main story, antagonists create conflict, and supporting characters help develop the main characters. Identifying each character's role aids in understanding their impact on the story and how they interact with others.

   7. What is the Character's Story Arc?

   How does the character change throughout the story? What significant events influence this transformation? A well-defined character arc shows growth and development, making the character’s journey compelling. The arc can be positive (overcoming a flaw), negative (succumbing to a vice), or complex (a mix of growth and setbacks). Understanding the character’s arc helps in ensuring that their journey feels authentic and engaging.

   8. What are the Character's Relationships?

   How does the character interact with others? What are their key relationships and how do these dynamics evolve? Relationships reveal different facets of the character’s personality and can drive the plot forward. Analyzing relationships with family, friends, allies, and antagonists provides insights into the character’s social world and emotional life. The evolution of these relationships often reflects the character's growth and helps to advance the story's themes and conflicts. These relationships also provide context and depth, influencing the character’s story decisions.

   9. How does the Character Contribute to the Theme?

   How does the character’s journey reflect or enhance the main themes of the story? Characters often embody thematic elements, reinforcing the story’s central message. Analyzing this helps in understanding how the character’s actions and growth contribute to the broader story themes. By examining how a character interacts with the theme, one can see how their personal journey parallels or contrasts with the larger message of the story.

   10. What are the Character's Conflicts?

   What internal and external conflicts does the character face? How do these conflicts impact their journey? Conflict refers to the obstacles, challenges, or opposition that each character encounters throughout the story. These conflicts drive the story and force the character to grow and adapt, adding tension and interest to the story. They can include inner conflict (struggles within their own emotions), relational conflict (conflicts with other characters), societal conflict (conflicts with social or cultural forces). and situational conflict (conflicts arising from the setting of the story).

   NEXT ARTICLE: 30 Questions to Ask About EACH Character (pt2)

This week, I’ve been challenging myself to step outside at the end of each day before sunset.

One unexpected benefit of the recent daylight savings shift is that the sun is still out when I wrap up work, which means I actually have time to enjoy it. And I realized something… when you work from home, it’s way too easy to go days without stepping outside if you’re not intentional about it.

For the first time since I left my parents’ home at 18, I have a backyard. And one of the very first things my husband did when we moved in a couple months ago was install a porch swing for me.

So this week, I’ve been making it a point to unplug, sit outside, and just be present for a few minutes every evening. My 3-year-old pup runs around the grass, completely in his element, and I’ve been giving myself permission to step away from screens, breathe some fresh air, and soak in a little Vitamin D.

It’s a small shift, but it’s been a meaningful one for a perfectionist who constantly pushes herself to be doing something "productive" at all times. Creative growth doesn’t always come from doing more, sometimes it comes from pausing, resetting, and creating space for your mind to wander and imagine.

What about you? What have you been doing this week to grow creatively, professionally, or personally?

Lately, I've been realizing how much of writing isn't just about getting the story down but understanding what the story actually is.

With my current feature, Pie & Coffee, the first draft helped me find the characters. The rewrites are where I'm really discovering what the film wants to say.

It's interesting how feedback, time away from the script, and even silence from the outside world all play a role in that process. Sometimes not getting immediate responses forces you to rely more on your own instincts and in a strange way, that can be valuable.

I'm currently in that phase of refining focusing on emotional clarity, character choices, and making sure every moment feels earned rather than just written.

Curious to hear from others

Have you ever had a phase where things felt quiet externally, but internally your work was evolving the most?

It’s very important for a director to identify the most important characters in their film for several reasons:

a. Allocating Screen Time and Resources: Identifying the most important characters ensures that the director prioritizes screen time, story focus, and production resources (costumes, rehearsals, shots, editing etc.) to highlight the significance of these characters in the story.

b. Clarifying Story Focus: Identifying the key characters allows the director to understand whose stories drive the plot. These primary characters are often central to the conflict and resolution, making it essential to build the story around their journeys, motivations, and interactions.

c. Establishing Character Dynamics: Focusing on the main characters helps the director analyze the relationships and dynamics between them. These interactions often form the emotional and dramatic core of the film, and understanding how these characters influence one another is crucial for maintaining tension and engagement throughout the story.

d. Guiding Performance Direction: By determining the most important characters, the director can give clear direction to the actors portraying them. This ensures the actors understand their roles within the story, helping them deliver performances that fit the character’s arc and significance to the overall plot.

1. Who is the Protagonist? (Main Character)

Who is the central character around whom the story revolves? The main character, or protagonist, is typically the character with the most significant arc and the one who drives the story forward. They are the characters whom the audience identifies the most and whose perspective the story is primarily told from. Understanding the main character involves digging into their background, personality, motivations, and relationships.

This knowledge is essential in order to create a relatable and engaging character whose journey captivates the audience. By exploring these elements, the director can ensure that the protagonist's actions and decisions are consistent and believable which helps to create a compelling story that engages the viewers.

2. Who is the Antagonist? (Main Adversary)

The antagonist is the character who opposes the protagonist and creates conflict. This character is crucial in creating tension and challenging the protagonist's goals. Understanding the antagonist’s motivations, goals, and background is essential to creating a compelling conflict. This character might not always be a villain; they can also be a rival, a love interest with opposing desires, or an environmental obstacle.

The antagonist's actions and decisions often directly impact the protagonist, forcing them to confront their limitations and grow throughout the story. This dynamic interplay between the protagonist and antagonist is key to maintaining the story's momentum and engaging the audience.

3. Who are the Main “Secondary” Characters? (Support the Protagonist)

This character often supports the protagonist but can also have their own significant subplot and development. They can also provide a different perspective or highlight different themes within the story.

For example:

a. Buddy: Often seen in buddy cop films or adventure stories, this role focuses on camaraderie and mutual support, highlighting the importance of friendship. They often provide contrasting traits to the protagonist, creating a dynamic and balanced partnership that drives the story forward.

b. Comic Relief: They provide humor to lighten the mood of the story, offering a break from the tension and drama. The comic relief character often has witty lines and humorous actions that add levity to the story.

c. Love Interest: This role typically involves a romantic subplot that helps to humanize and develop the protagonist, providing an emotional anchor. Their relationship with the protagonist often drives key emotional and story developments, adding depth and complexity to the story.

d. Mentor: Frequently found in fantasy and hero’s journey stories, the mentor offers wisdom, training, and crucial support, helping the protagonist to grow and overcome challenges.

e. Sidekick: This role supports the protagonist, often providing comic relief, assistance, and a contrasting personality. The sidekick helps to highlight the protagonist's traits and can offer an additional layer of depth to the story.

NEXT ARTICLE: 30 Questions to Ask About EACH Character (pt1)