humanity of character

When your characters know that they're not real, their humanity becomes more important than ever. There's already a lot of overlap between what defines a character and what defines humanity, like fears, habits and desires. 

At a writing seminar a speaker once told me that female characters are more sympathetic. When I said, "Why?" he seemed to think I should calm down and told the guys not to worry because "we still outnumber the women in the room." Obviously he was too sexist to understand the point of my question: making your character human does not give them automatic humanity.

Characters in commercial fiction and Hollywood films are often systematically abused to invite an emotional response in the audience. It's annoying. It's insulting. It's bad writing. Home invasion stories are meaningless if we can't relate to the family at risk. The solution to making the audience care is not to put the character in the package of a human body. It's degrading the audience and you can't get away with it in a story that isn't about humans (like Toy Story or Finding Nemo). Writer's do it when they're lazy. Like one of my actors (Kyle Ray) once told me, "it's easier to pant than to breathe." 

Just because a constituent is panting doesn't mean he's in distress. And making him the same species as the audience doesn't make him relatable. If you want to be a storyteller, it's your responsibility to fiercely guard and nurture the humanity of your constituents. In order words, make them "real characters." 

One of my favorite things about film is that the actors can make this easy to do. There comes a point I hand the character off completely. "He's yours now," I tell the actor, and I count on them to be an advocate, whether they know it or not. Your actor is a real human being, and if something feels unnatural or inhuman for the character, they'll feel it. Your job is to foster a dialogue that will allow the actor to communicate that to you, even subconsciously. And as things shift in production (as they always do), an actor who is connected to their own humanity will inevitably be able to hold down the arc of the character.

Peace,

Ayah

#DeltaPhiFilm

A Production Like This

In an earlier post about Delta Phi I made some kind of reference to "a production like this," and today I want to set out to define what that is. 

Delta Phi is mid range in terms of length, maybe 45 minutes to an hour. It has both characters who are considered real and unreal, and all are aware of the form, so it's an investigation of metafiction that I know is sorely needed. It's funny, it's emotive, it's subtle; but it's not just the content that's made this a unique experience for me. 

In terms of the production itself, it has a relatively great set of resources for something with so little overhead. I'm heading a team of no more than seven people. That means there's only one person to address or amend all the victories and all the mistakes of the production. I'm the only person that anyone has to answer to. This makes more room for mistakes, but also more room for innovations and experimentation that might otherwise be shut down. 

The thing to take away from this is that it's worth knowing what your values are for a project. Invest in the priority. Know the difference between what a project needs and what you think the project needs. Our egos often get caught up in possibilities. The internet allows for a proprietary system of art making (meaning that you can get stuff out there on your own regardless of whether you're with a big publishing house or studio), so there's no "right" way of doing things. If you can afford the time to write a script, make it an unbeatable script. If you're not set on content but have access to a great camera, get to know everything it can do. That doesn't mean you stop at great. It means you know greatness so well that you can start breaking new ground and taking risks again with the aspect that you're good at. I watch so many people waste time trying to be "just okay" with every aspect of their art and life that that's where everything ends up: Just okay. It's acceptable. It's pretty good. 

The Delta Phi team doesn't have a flexible schedule. It doesn't have a lot of money or locations and all of its members have less than ten years of experience in the field. A good leader finds assets in liability. Less experience means more hunger, and beginner's mind. Less locations means better locations and investment in art direction. Less time means more than meticulous planning; it means planning time and spaces for moments that should not be planned.

You can always spontaneity so long as you're regimented about when to give it room. In addition to the script, a make a compilation of brief scene descriptions that describe a premise of interaction between the characters and would help fill in dead space in the edit. I don't have to use it, it doesn't take as much time to prepare or rehearse, and it gives the team a part of the schedule each day to experiment and let new things happen. 

This message about resourcefulness is one that I've shared before; but it's one that's always relevant, and often takes a while to sink in :)

Peace,

Ayah

#DeltaPhiFilm

Dear America, Imagine Please

Today I lost my right not to be political; I see that as a right because it's a right that my grandparents fought for by escaping a country where politics hijacked the humanity of individuals. I promise that this has to do with metafiction.

But first, some letters; I want to invite America into an imaginative exercise, because imagination is beautiful. Scroll to any letters that feels relevant to you: there's a letter for everyone, I promise. It has nothing to do with who you supported through the tension of the last twenty four hours. I am not trying to upset anyone. I want us to be present in the truth of where we are as a country, and to be still in it. 

DEAR AMERICAN WOMEN, I must inform you that your country has, presumably by majority rule, elected a man for its leader who has openly expressed that you are less than human because you are feminine. He has acted on this sentiment. The humanity of his victims did not overwhelm the support that he had from other aggressors. Do you feel that I'm exaggerating? Do you feel that it's not a big deal? Do you feel that you are a special woman, and that most other women are inferior? Perhaps you feel the opposite. Perhaps you feel betrayed and in danger, not only from him, but from the those who have the ability to protect you. Feel it. This is what oppression feels like. Maybe you like it, maybe you don't. But this is what it feels like and it's called oppression. How does it feel in your stomach? Imagine the feeling. What color is it? What is it shaped like? How does it sound? There is no right answer. Feel and and give it a name. Know it. 

DEAR STRAIGHT AMERICAN MEN, I must inform you that your country has, presumably by majority rule, elected a man for its leader who has openly expressed the women you desire are less than human. He has acted on this sentiment. He does not feel that men can, and should, respect the people they love and love the people they respect. The humanity of his victims did not overwhelm the support that he had from other aggressors. This country elected a man who offends your social sensibilities and education, and who has put women on guard and made them afraid of your demographic. Do you think that I am wrong? Do you feel judged and frustrated? Imagine your thoughts. What do they smell like? What do they feel like? What they shaped like? There is no right answer, just imagine your truth. This is what is feels like to be robbed of your sexual empowerment. Feel it. Know it. Give it a name. 

DEAR LGBTQ AMERICANS, I must tell you that your country has elected someone who has tried to capitalize your voice for his own agenda. Your fellow citizens have elected a man who stifles the social freedom that validated your identities and desires. Do you feel tired? Do you feel exhausted? Do you feel absurdity? Imagine what the feeling is. What does it look like? What does it smell and sound like? Give it a name and know it. No wrong answers. And know, also, that your freedom is connected to everyone's freedom. 

DEAR AMERICAN MUSLIMS, you should know that your country has just elected, presumably by majority rule, a figurehead and leader who has expressed intent to systematically strip you of your rights and sense of safety. Do you think I am exaggerating? Maybe you are right. There are no right or wrong answers. This is what oppression feels like. Perhaps it doesn't feel that bad, but this is what it is. Do you feel it in your stomach? In your neck? What does it look like? Know what this feeling is and give it to God. 

DEAR NON-WHITE AMERICANS, I must tell you that your country has elected, presumably by majority rule, a figurehead who can represent their frustration at your prevalence in society. There are people who don't want you to forget that you are not white, because they feel that it matters. Take a moment to do nothing but experience what this oppression is like. Imagine it like you are discovering a new animal. It doesn't have to look like anything particular. Do you feel I am exaggerating? Do you feel that you are unsafe? No wrong answers. Feel it and name it, because it's here. 

POST SCRIPT FOR EVERYONE: While I'm on the subject, I want to mention the importance of unity: there has never been a good time to shut out another group of equally oppressed people because you disagree with their lifestyle, nature, or beliefs. Especially not now. I say this for my own peer group as much as for others. The division that still exists between the LGBTQ community and otherwise supportive religious communities is more than disheartening, it's a luxury that we can't afford right now. 

Why is this so important to metafiction? Let me show you: 

This is Phi. 

This is Poppy. 

This is Alan Cope. 

This is Delta. 

This is Harry Potter. 

A death rattle is the last breath of a dying animal. This election is just the death rattle of racist and sexist culture in America. 

Don't lose your chill, people. Go out there and be your weird, gay, religious, whatever selves. Go be America. We're all in the story, now.