Impact Character Video Montage

April 12, 2007

As mentioned before in earlier posts, the lack of a solid Impact Character is one of the primary flaws in stories that don’t work. Having a character with a consistent viewpoint that prevents a Main Character from sidestepping his own personal issues is absolutely essential. That’s why the Impact Character used to be called the Obstacle Character - because that character represented an obstacle to the Main Character just going on with the way he usually does things.

Because the Main and Impact Characters deal with a similar type of subject matter (either something that is fixed or something that is changing) there will be similarities between them. Because they sit on opposite sides of perspective (one looking at things, while another looks from within things) there will be differences. I explained this further in my post last week about why there is a reason the Main and Impact Characters are alike.

This excerpt from the Dramatica theory book was my first introduction:

The Main and Obstacle Characters are counterparts. They represent the two principal sides to the argument of the story. Because they are dealing with the same issues a case can be made that they are not too far apart. This often results in such familiar lines as “We’re both alike,” “We’re just two sides of the same coin,” “I’m your shadow self,” and so on. In contrast, though they are concerned with the same things, they are coming at them from completely opposing views. This leads to common line such as “We’re nothing alike, you and I,” or “We used to be friends until you stepped over the line.”

That sounded familiar to me. Enough that I believed in the validity of the idea of an Impact Character. However, it wasn’t until I attended a Dramatica seminar and saw the following video montage that I finally bought in:

Hilarious, right? Seeing them all put together like this really solidifies the idea that there must be something to this idea of an Impact Character. Why else would all these authors put these scenes into their stories? Most of these clips were from movies made prior to the first release of Dramatica (1994) - prior to any notion of an Impact Character. These authors instinctively knew that they needed some kind of special character that would challenge the Main Character’s way of doing or thinking about things.

Without an Impact Character, the Main Character would just languish in their own destructive behavior

Now there are graceful and not-so-graceful ways of using an Impact Character in your own story. The clips above that come off as the most silliest probably fall into the latter category. I particularly like the clip from The Devil Wears Prada. They didn’t resort to the “my parents wouldn’t let me do what I wanted to either” sort of line.

This video is just one of many that you’ll find at the Dramatica Weekend Workshop being held the weekend of May 19th. While there is plenty of great free information out there, on the main Dramatica.com site and of course, this blog, nothing beats having an instructor there lay it all out for you and answer any questions you may have. I’ve taken the class twice and have learned something new every time (I’m still learning, even today!).

The Impact Character is essential to a complete and fulfilling story. Without that conflicting worldview to shine a light on the Main Character’s justifications, there would be no reason for the Main Character to grow. They would simply languish in their own destructive behavior. Sure, plot events could provide incentive for movement. But only a consistent, almost nagging perspective from another person provides that personal intimate push a person needs to reassess how they see things. And isn’t that what a Main Character is? Someone beset by so much personal baggage that they don’t even know why they do the things they do?

There has to be that outside, external person that obstructs the Main Character from just going on about his day. Only with that personal connection can you write a fulfilling story.