A Real Pain: Building Characters With Vignettes

Excerpt:

There’s a beautiful teaching moment right at the start of “A Real Pain” when we meet “…Benji (Kieran Culkin) at the airport. He’s sitting there with an oversized backpack, seemingly content, while people flow past him…” Meanwhile, his cousin “…David (Jesse Eisenberg) is frantically calling him over and over, convinced he’ll be late…” This opening sequence tells us everything we need to know about these characters and sets up the film’s exploration of how differently people process pain.

What makes this film particularly fascinating is how Jesse Eisenberg uses what Francis Ford Coppola calls ‘vignettes’ – those initial character introductions that frame everything that follows. Each vignette serves as a window through which we understand the character’s entire journey. For Benji, it’s his ability to find joy in simply sitting at an airport, meeting ‘the craziest people.’ For David, it’s his anxiety-driven need for control, calling repeatedly despite Benji already being there.

In this episode, we’re going to explore:

  • Why the first image of your characters is crucial on three different levels
  • How these introductions serve the writer, audience, and commercial interests
  • The art of using vignettes to track character journeys
  • Writing strong character-driven movies that explore theme
  • How to introduce characters in ways that attract A-list talent
  • The power of these initial images in framing everything that follows
  • Techniques for building meaning through character introductions

Join us as we unpack how “A Real Pain” masterfully uses these opening moments to set up a meditation on pain, family bonds, and the weight of historical trauma that some carry while others seem to have moved on. As Jesse Eisenberg shows us, sometimes the most powerful storytelling comes not from what happens in your plot, but from how you first introduce your characters to the world.”

Key Concepts:

  • Character introduction techniques in screenwriting
  • How to write character vignettes for screenplays
  • Character development through first impressions
  • Writing compelling character arcs
  • How to attract A-list actors with strong character introductions
  • Script writing for indie films
  • Character-driven screenplay structure
  • Writing non-traditional screenplay structure
  • Screenwriting techniques for emotional impact
  • How to write character contrast in scripts
  • Scene mirroring techniques in screenwriting
  • Character foils in screenplay writing
  • Writing compelling character relationships
  • Screenplay theme development
  • How to write character pain and trauma
  • Writing meaningful character backstory
  • Script structure for indie films
  • Screenplay character motivation techniques
  • Writing emotional catharsis in scripts
  • How to show character transformation in scripts

Join Jake for free every Thursday night at Thursday Night Writes, RSVP here and check all of our classes!

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