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dramatic need is the engine that powers the character through the
story line.
The second thing that makes good character is point of view.
Point of view is defined as the way a person sees, or views, the world.
Every person has an individual point of view. Point of view is a belief system, and as we know, what we believe to be true is true.
There's an ancient Hindu scripture titled the Yoga Vasistha that
states, "The World is as you see it." That means that what's inside our
headour thoughts, feelings, emotions, memoriesis reflected
outside, in our everyday experience. It is our mind, how we see the
world, that determines our experience. As one Great Being puts it:
"You are the baker of the bread you eat."
Point of view shades and colors the way we see the world. Have
you ever heard phrases like: "Life is unfair," "You can't fight City
Hall," "All life is a game of chance," "You can't teach an old dog new
tricks," "Life is unlimited opportunity," "You make your own luck,"
or "Success is based on who you know"? These are all points of
view. We all have points of view, singular and unique, individual to
the personal experience and expression of each person. It should
be mentioned that a point of view is acquired through personal experience.
If your character is a parent, she/he could reflect a "parent's"
point of view. Or he/she could be a student and view the world from
a "student's" point of view. A housewife has a specific point of view.
So does a criminal, terrorist, cop, doctor, lawyer, rich man, poor
manall present individual and unique points of view.
Do you know what your character's point of view is?
Is your character an environmentalist? A humanist? A racist?
Someone who believes in fate, destiny, and astrology? Does your
character believe in voodoo or witchcraft, esi* that the future can be
revealed through a medium or psychic? Does your character believe
that the limitations we confront are self-imposed, like Neo in The
Matrix7. Does your character put his faith in doctors, lawyers, The
Wall Street Journal, The New York Tiniest His/her belief in Time,
People, Newsweek, and the evening news?
Point of view is an individual and independent belief system. I

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believe in God. That's a point of view. Or, I don't believe in God.

That's also a point of view. Or, I don't know whether there is a God
or not; that's also a point of view. All three statements are true
within the individual fabric of the character. There is no right or
wrong here, no good or bad, no judgment, justification, or evaluation. Point of view is neither right nor wrong; it is as singular and
distinctive as a rose on a rosebush. No two leaves, no two flowers, no
two people are ever the same.
The Native Americans believe the Earth is a living being.
Therefore, all living things on this planet are part of Mother Earth,
whether a human, tree, rock, animal, stream, or flower. All life is sacred. That's a point of view.
Your character's point of view may be that the indiscriminate
slaughtering of dolphins and whales is morally wrong because they
are two of the most intelligent species on the planet, maybe smarter
than man. Your character supports that point of view by participating in demonstrations and wearing T-shirts with Save the Whales
and Dolphins on it.
Look for ways your characters can support and dramatize their
points of view. Knowing your characters' points of view becomes a
good way to generate conflict. If your characters believe in luck, they
believe that there's a chance they can win the lottery. But anyone who
believes that it's "fixed" is not going to waste a dollar on a pick.
In The Shawshank Redemption, there's a short scene between
Andy and Red that reveals the difference in their points of view.
After almost twenty years in Shawshank Prison, Red is cynical because, in his eyes, the concept of hope is simply a four-letter word.
His spirit has been so crushed by the prison system that he angrily
declares to Andy, "Hope is a dangerous thing. Drives a man insane.
It's got no place here. Better get used to the idea." And it is Red's
emotional journey that leads him to the understanding that "hope
is a good thing." The film ends on a note of hope, with Red breaking
his parole and riding the bus to meet Andy in Mexico: "I hope I can
make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his
hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams __ I
hope"

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