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What's Character Got to Do with It? (Full Session)

The Aspen Institute・43 minutes read

Aaron emphasizes character development through showing a character's intentions and obstacles, using the analogy of hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree. He discusses his writing process, love for dialogue, and the importance of authenticity in speech, focusing on intention and obstacles as the driving force behind his work.

Insights

  • Character development is crucial in storytelling, with Aaron emphasizing the importance of showing a character's desires and obstacles rather than telling who they are, using tactics to overcome challenges to define their essence.
  • The writer's works are influenced by a focus on clear intentions, formidable obstacles, and diagnostic analysis of writing problems, drawing inspiration from Aristotle's principles and favorite writers, with characters striving to fulfill voids and embody deep ambition akin to Don Quixote's idealism.

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Recent questions

  • How does Aaron define character development?

    Aaron emphasizes showing character wants over telling who they are. He highlights intention and obstacles as defining factors, using the analogy of hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree to explain how tactics to overcome obstacles shape a character.

  • What example does Aaron use to explain character intentions?

    Aaron mentions Toy Story characters' desire to make a kid happy as an example of defining characters through their intentions and obstacles. He separates people's properties from characters, emphasizing the distinct nature of drama and real life.

  • What does Aaron discuss about his writing process?

    Aaron focuses on intention and obstacle as the driving force behind his work. He shares a personal anecdote about his only political agenda involving a childhood crush and a political campaign. Aaron explains his love for dialogue, influenced by his exposure to plays from a young age.

  • How does Aaron view the portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg's motivations?

    Aaron addresses the portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg's motivations in "The Social Network" and the decision to focus on unrequited love in the film. He compares the differences in dealing with executives between "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," citing the challenges and successes of each.

  • What influences Aaron's approach to character development?

    Aaron's approach is influenced by a desire to portray characters striving to fulfill a void, as seen in dynamic characters like those in "Steve Jobs." He draws inspiration from favorite writers and Aristotle's principles, emphasizing the importance of clear intentions, formidable obstacles, and diagnostic analysis of writing issues.

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Summary

00:00

Character Development: Showing Wants Over Telling Who

  • Aaron discusses character development and emphasizes showing what a character wants rather than telling who they are.
  • He highlights the importance of intention and obstacles in defining a character's essence.
  • Aaron uses the analogy of hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree to explain how tactics to overcome obstacles define a character.
  • He mentions Toy Story characters' desire to make a kid happy as an example of defining characters through their intentions and obstacles.
  • Aaron separates the properties of people from those of characters, emphasizing the distinct nature of drama and real life.
  • He clarifies that his writing does not aim to lecture or impose a specific way of living on the audience.
  • Aaron shares a personal anecdote about his only political agenda involving a childhood crush and a political campaign.
  • He discusses his writing process, focusing on intention and obstacle as the driving force behind his work.
  • Aaron explains his love for dialogue, influenced by his exposure to plays from a young age.
  • He mentions the challenge of writing dialogue for younger characters in the 21st century, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in speech.

17:28

Writing Process, Fatherhood, and Creative Influences

  • The speaker discusses the complexity of portraying life in Queens and fatherhood in "Twelve Angry Men."
  • A novelist questions the speaker about drinking while writing, leading to a discussion on emotional versus disciplined writing processes.
  • The speaker describes his physical and emotional writing process, including an incident where he broke his nose while writing a scene for "The Newsroom."
  • The speaker recalls a moment when he physically acted out a scene he was writing, resulting in a broken nose.
  • The speaker mentions the importance of fresh eyes reading his work, highlighting a moment when Walter enjoyed his Steve Jobs screenplay.
  • The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of the satisfaction from successful writing and the continuous need to create.
  • The speaker discusses his mentor, William Goldman, and his influence on his writing career.
  • The speaker talks about his preference for writing workplace settings and characters with honorable intentions in fiction.
  • The speaker addresses the portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg's motivations in "The Social Network" and the decision to focus on unrequited love in the film.
  • The speaker compares the differences in dealing with executives between "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," citing the challenges and successes of each.

36:05

Television's Impact on Audience and Creativity

  • Early broadcast television shows like "Father Knows Best" and "I Dream of Jeannie" depicted families living in Springfield with husbands in vague jobs like businessmen or advertisers, no religion, and no salary.
  • Television has a more intimate relationship with its audience compared to movies or plays due to its frequent presence in homes during daily activities.
  • "The West Wing" was an unexpected hit, not testing well initially, but Warner Brothers convinced NBC to order 13 episodes by targeting specific demographics like households earning over $75,000, with college-educated members, New York Times subscribers, and home internet access.
  • The show's success was tied to the dot-com boom, with a significant portion of advertising spots being for dot-coms and BMW, leveraging the internet access demographic.
  • Commercial considerations are not a primary concern for the writer during the creative process, with a focus on quality rather than audience size.
  • The writer draws inspiration from favorite writers and Aristotle's principles, emphasizing the importance of clear intentions, formidable obstacles, and diagnostic analysis of writing issues.
  • Characters in the writer's works are not directly reflective of personal traits, with more of the writer's father's characteristics infused into characters than his own.
  • The writer's approach to character development is influenced by a desire to portray characters striving to fulfill a void, as seen in dynamic characters like those in "Steve Jobs."
  • The writer's relationship with technology is not negative, but concerns lie more with social media than technology itself, as depicted in works like "The Newsroom."
  • Gender does not play a significant role in character development for the writer, with a focus on intention and obstacles rather than gender-specific traits, often influenced by the casting of actresses in roles.

55:36

Fassbender embodies Jobs in American ambition.

  • Michael Fassbender has taken over the role of Steve Jobs from the speaker, who appreciates the collaboration with director Danny Boyle, emphasizing the deep American ambition seen in characters like Zuckerberg, Billy Beane, and Jobs, drawing parallels to Don Quixote's idealism and pursuit of perfection in craft.
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