It's Alive! It's Alive!

In almost every treatise on writing, I've come across the idea that characters begin to make their own decisions.  Countless authors have written about it, and I'll just add my name to that long list.  (Audacity here of calling me an author, but I'm the one writing this so go screw)  It's totally true, and here's some examples.

First time I personally discovered this, was back in college, when I was writing/drawing Freelance Justice.  This was a pretty plot driven storyline, with character based comedy.  About midway through the second semester of adventures, the gang, consisting of Kid Justice, The King, and Barry Pope, took an excursion to Hollywood.  I don't recall having this be an exit point for Barry, but as I neared the story and started creating it, I realized that this was a perfect jumping off point for Barry.  He didn't have much else to do for the next few arcs, he just completed a personal "origin" arc, and his story was pretty much done for now.  I hadn't planned on it, but he decided to stay in L.A. and the other two went on their own.  The most disservice I think I did to his character, actually, was bringing him back at the end.  On one hand, he absolutely would have shown up to help his best friend, KJ, but on the other hand, his story was done.  I guess it was his Han Solo moment. 

Anyway, that was the first time I recall it happening to me.  It happened again today, as I was working on the "Ushers" screenplay.  I'd just finished plotting out, and had been ironing out the plot in my head for weeks, the story structure.  None of it involved a plot turn where the two adversaries "team up" to accomplish a goal.  It never entered my mind.  Yet, there I was, writing out the dialogue between my protagonist and another secondary character, and the secondary character put forth that proposition, and by damn it made sense.  Sense enough for my protagonist to agree to it, and it has now altered the direction of his goal.  The target of his quest is still the same, but now there's an added wrinkle.

I'm not convinced I like this, but I have to say, it makes sense, given the characters as I've established them so far.  A lot of work to do, but this was one of those moments where your creation gained that spark of life and I wanted to share.

MotD: Zardoz
Ok, so Planet of the Apes met Logan's Run in a bar one night.  They have a few cocktails, Planet starts sweet talking Logan, and next thing you know, Planet is dry humping Logan's run and snorting YaYo off Michael York's ass.  The product of this alcohol and drug filled one night stand is Zardoz.  THE craziest sci fi movie I've ever seen, at least the craziest that includes the phrase "The Penis is Bad" multiple times.  There is so much casual nudity in this, you truly don't see it after a few minutes.  Except of course for Sean Connery, who had more chest hair on than he did clothing.  I ALMOST want to watch it again with the director's commentary, but that would require me to WATCH IT AGAIN, which I can't do in good faith.

MotD Extra: Audition
Disappointed with this movie.  I'd heard a lot of good things about this Takashi (sp?) Mike film, where a widower has a literal audition for a new wife, and she turns the tables on his sexism.  Much like "Hard Candy" from a few weeks ago, I was intrigued by the revenge, table turning events.  That anticipation was overwhelmed here by a stunning sense of boredom.  It takes a slow burn approach to the story, which isn't helped by the language barrier.  That said, the delusion scenes were well done, just too little too late.