[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: I love watching the two of you work together. I’m curious, it seems like you have empathy for this character. Then as the character maybe you had empathy for the writer as well. What would happen if neither was available? Maybe you didn’t write [the character] or you didn’t understand the character and it was a character you didn’t necessarily like? How would that translate in body language, in tone, when you’re sitting in these different chairs?
Angelique Pretorius, Actor/Writer: Well, first I’ll say I’ll approach this question how I would play a role because I’ve had to play all sorts and very often not very likable characters. What I’ve come to realize is that there are many more common threads in people than you think. Ultimately, the worse someone behaves, the more hurt they are. Even though they might say if I was creating a character that had quite a harsh energy and was quite antagonistic, there could have potentially been some tension there.
But ultimately I think the kind of power lies as a writer and an actor to see beyond that and see the layers or try as much as you can because I know we all know people like this who have this very kind of strong physical facade but actually there’s so much going on behind that.
Maybe I would in that instance also allow the character to be seen maybe in more of a public environment and then on their own or on a bad day when they’re actually quite vulnerable or speaking to the mom that triggers them or something that is the cause of their hurt to kind of understand them a little bit better. It’s not just one context.
I was saying to Matthew the other day that we only really show our character as human beings in circumstances. It’s not like I sit in my chair and think exactly I’m trustworthy, I’m a bad driver. You experience those things in the environment.
Matthew Kalil, Screenwriter/Author/Instructor: It’s basically this thing about you show it through action and engagement in the world and events and you respond to events and that reveals your character. You don’t reveal it’s very difficult to show an actor or a character in isolation and it is hard to make it dramatic. I think it’s that thing.
I did want to pick up on what you asked about because I have had this a lot of times when I’ve done this assignment. I was really happy to see that you liked her and she liked you and I was like this is good. It actually feels to me that I’ve done this exercise where some writers don’t trust this character or don’t like this character and then the character doesn’t like the writer.
Actually for me as a trainer I’m like Wait a minute, something’s wrong here. Something’s going on here. If you can’t feel empathy towards your character, if you can’t be interested in your character even if they are…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
BUY THE BOOK – THE THREE WELLS OF SCREENWRITING: Discover Your Deep Sources Of Inspiration
CONNECT WITH MATTHEW KALIL
Matthewkalil.com
CONNECT WITH THE THREE WELLS OF SCREENWRITING
Thethreewells.com
Facebook
Soundcloud
Instagram
About:
Matthew Kalil is a writer, director, script editor, author and speaker. He has written and co-written over 40 produced episodes of TV and has received various grants, development funding and awards. Matthew’s productions have been screened and broadcast in Canada, Denmark, Morocco, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, the United States and the United Kingdom. Since receiving his MA in Screenwriting, he has been teaching, writing and mentoring students for over 20 years. Matthew has developed a unique system of screenwriting theory that helps beginners as well as established screenwriters get in touch with their creative core. His book, The Three Wells of Screenwriting, published by Michael Wiese productions with a foreword by Christopher Vogler, has been describes as a “breakthrough in the writing craft.” His workshops have touched and inspired thousands of participants and his gentle and insightful script editing guidance has helped many writers realize the stories they were always trying to tell. A charismatic speaker, Matthew has enjoyed presenting many times at the London Screenwriting Festival, the Cape Town International Animation Festival and the University Film and Video Association. Matthew is currently an Assistant Professor at the David Lynch MFA in screenwriting in the USA.
About:
Angelique Pretorius is an actor, writer and producer born in London and raised in South Africa. She started her performance journey with ballet and theatre training. When her focus shifted to TV and film she rose to prominence in South Africa by acting in a plethora of local productions. She also worked on popular international TV series, ‘Black Sails’ (produced by Michael Bay) and ‘Strike Back’ (HBO), as well as the TIFF selected biopic ‘Winnie Mandela’, starring Jennifer Hudson. Now based in Los Angeles, her recent film, ‘Mind Thief’, has garnered festival wins, such as ‘Best Screenplay’ at the Boston Sci Fi Film Festival, as well as critical acclaim.
CONNECT WITH ANGELIQUE PRETORIUS
Advertisement – contains affiliate links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Join Film Courage for a 2-hour online Zoom class
9 Steps To Writing A Great Scene – Story Questions Writing Workshop
Sunday, April 27, 2025 11am – 1pm PDT
More info on Eventbrite here.
New book from Film Courage – Now on Payhip!
Camera we use for interviews – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra
Sound we use for interviews – https://amzn.to/2tbFlM9
Other books on Amazon that Film Courage recommends – https://buff.ly/3o0oE5o
