The characters at odds with the heroes are as important as the goals. They are the antagonists or protagonists depending on your structure. Generally, a protagonist tries to accomplish a goal and an antagonist tries to stop a goal. If described as enemies, they are challenged both by their enemy and by their world. The better-formed heroes will have external and also internal struggles. They may need to face and defeat their own demons. To be successful, they and the opponent characters may need to find or originate a new system of organization or control. These challenges and the heroes' rise against them substantiate the opposition. A substantial opponent makes for an interesting challenge.
Alexander Valdez is a filmmaker and author. He has written A Writer’s Guide to the Hero’s Journey and Screenwriter’s Notebook. He is the founder of the Cinema-Libre Film Movement, a National Merit Scholar and first appeared in the Hollywood Creative Directory in 2002 under Academy Award Winning Producer Al Ruddy and Producer Andre Morgan as a Story Editor. He has served as a Writer’s Guild Writer’s Assistant, is inducted into the Director’s Guild of America and has a hiring contract for the Producer’s Guild of America. He is a point-member in Actor’s Equity Association and also a composer listed to the American Society of Composer and Performers, where at the time or invitation he was the youngest member invited to the union. He has also done voice for Radio to membership in the American Film, Television and Radio Actors, now SAG-AFTRA.
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