Reel Expression

The status of the character as it unfolds throughout the story. Generally, characters begin the story with a certain viewpoint and, through events in the story, that viewpoint changes. If the character does not change, the audience typically feels like they wasted their time.

As you can see in the diagram, there are specific points in which the character changes in the 3 act structure. Below is the breakdown of what the numbers correspond to.

1. Limited awareness of the need to change
2. Increased awareness of the problem
3. Reluctance to face problem
4. Over coming reluctance
5. Commit to change
6. Experimenting with first change
7. Preparation for the big change
8. Attempting big change
9. Consequences of attempts - set backs or rewards
10. Redirection to change
11. Final attempt to change
12. Mastery of problem.

Here is the same thing but using the film American Beauty as an example:

1. Aware he’s a loser - doesn’t yet know how to change his situation.
2. Complacent, apathetic, low self esteem. Asked in job to evaluate self worth.
3. Shirks his responsibility.
4. Meets Angela -> infatuated with her.
5. Angela tells him he’d be hot if he worked out.
6. Tells wife off, befriends Ricky, jogs with gay couple, buys pot, lifts weights. Ricky represents what Lester wants to be.
7. Quits job, new job, new car.
8. Tries to reconcile with wife but fails. Catches wife having affair. Tells her: “You don’t get to tell me what to do ever again.”
9. Gained power over wife. However, there are consequences with the tone in the house.
10. Faces decision to sleep with Angela. Moral dilemma.
11. Lester learns that Angela is a virgin -> decides not to sleep with her -> becomes a father to her that he never was to Jane -> becomes responsible.
12. Becomes a man -> is free -> then killed