Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen

This review is coming from a big fan of "Story" and someone who still has "Dialogue" on their to-read list. I'll try to keep it short and sweet....This is easily the most robust book that you'll finding on the philosophy and art of characters. However, like "Story", I feel that the information, as eye-opening as it is, could be organized / formatted better and sometimes described more clearly from the get-go. At the very least, all the perspectives and ways of breaking-down a character could be tied into one another in a final chapter, as to make this stuff more directly applicable for us writers. Nevertheless, you could just highlight as you read and then create your own guide through all this information, as I do.Robert McKee also has no hesitation in bluntly sifting through touchy societal and systemic issues as a way of getting to the core of who we are as human beings . With this being the case, he also breaks down "Slave Play", a play which takes on racism, sadism, and our subconscious biases when it comes to those matters. None of the aforementioned bothered me — in fact, I appreciate his decisions on this front — but I'm certain others won't feel the same.Lastly, some of the information in the book can ultimately be a touch contradictory (in manners like character change) and is maybe too forward in stating that it's best to hold back on physically introducing your protagonist. Also, there are a number of grammatical errors. All that being said, the book leaves you with more than enough clear and informed principles to guide you in making a rich cast of characters.

I respect Robert, but holy crap, this book was a slog and a half. So much posturing and bloviating. It's like he's going out of his way to impress the reader, but moreover he's trying to impress himself. He's anything but clear and concise. This book should have been half this length to provide any worth and value.In the movie Amadeus, the King played by Jeffrey Jones, wasn't happy with Mozart. He told him there were too many notes.Way too many words, Robert. Get to the darn point faster.

I have listened to all three of McKee's book on screenwriting, with the hardcopies in my lap so I could highlight passages that I felt were especially relevant. His narration is flawless. He speaks clearly and moves at a perfect pace for comprehension and note taking. It is no wonder that he is so in demand as a lecturer.The content of the book, of course, is the most important thing and McKee presents it exactly the way we all should be writing - without a single extra word. Every line is on target, says exactly what needs to be said with the perfect economy of words. He will say it again - sometimes for the sake of repetition so we hear it, but also in other contexts or relating to other forms than the Screenplay and sometimes in summary at the end of a section, but he does not phrase it 10 different ways and force us to sit through that, nor does he relate anything to the time his cousin from Schenectady was telling his wife Florence how to ski,... There is no fluff. Not so much as a comma where one needn't be. These books tell you exactly what you need to know, and if you listen to the Audible version he will tell you the same thing, in an appropriately authoritative tone carefully modulated to maximize the experience for the reader who is reading to learn something. I've heard his narration described as "condescending," and I could see how somebody might make that mistake. We are not accustomed to hearing finely crafted elocution in this country. Even out presidents don't seem to make an effort anymore. I appreciate Robert McKee's care if ensuring that I can listen, process what I hear, while also making a note of it.

Robert Mckee's book "Character: The Art of Role and Cast Design for Page, Stage, and Screen" is insightful, thorough, and philosophical on a significantly higher level than most writing books I have encountered. It is an important acquisition to my expanding library. My one complaint... the binding is poor in that the front cover has a bloody crease in it. The book was $35 and shouldn't have a bloody crease in it. Of course, the contents are the prize and the pages are good paper. It just cheezes me off a bit to see such crappy workmanship.

Robert McKee not only pulls you out of darknesss of writing cliche and crafting mundane characters, but also helps you understand why story, and why unfolding via character. Chraracter drives the story while story propels the character to an adventure beyond imagination. The world of character with various insights makes the reader or the audience fascinated with a universe alien (fictional) yet feels so real. Write your character wity the tools of Mckee and you may pleasantly shock your own ability to a write a good story well told. Bravo.

All his books are so well written. Even if you don't plan on writing a screenplay you will garner much insight into the human condition.