Editing Screenwriting (section)

== Character theories ==
=== Michael Hauge's categories ===
Michael Hauge divides primary characters into four categories. A screenplay may have more than one character in any category.
* '''hero''': This is the main character, whose outer motivation drives the plot forward, who is the primary object of identification for the reader and audience, and who is on screen most of the time.
* '''nemesis''': This is the character who most stands in the way of the hero achieving his or her outer motivation.
* '''reflection''': This is the character who supports the hero's outer motivation or at least is in the same basic situation at the beginning of the screenplay.
* '''romance''': This is the character who is the sexual or romantic object of at least part of the hero's outer motivation.<ref>{{harvtxt|Hauge|1991|pp=59–62}}</ref>

Secondary characters are all the other people in the screenplay and should serve as many of the functions above as possible.<ref>{{harvtxt|Hauge|1991|p=65}}</ref>

Motivation is whatever the character hopes to accomplish by the end of the movie. Motivation exists on outer and inner levels.
* '''outer motivation''' is what the character visibly or physically hopes to achieve or accomplish by the end of the film. Outer motivation is revealed through action.
* '''inner motivation''' is the answer to the question, "Why does the character want to achieve his or her outer motivation?" This is always related to gaining greater feelings of self-worth. Since inner motivation comes from within, it is usually invisible and revealed through dialogue. Exploration of inner motivation is optional.

Motivation alone is not sufficient to make the screenplay work. There must be something preventing the hero from getting what he or she wants. That something is conflict.
* '''outer conflict''' is whatever stands in the way of the character achieving his or her outer motivation. It is the sum of all the obstacles and hurdles that the character must try to overcome in order to reach his or her objective.
* '''inner conflict''' is whatever stands in the way of the character achieving his or her inner motivation. This conflict always originates from within the character and prevents him or her from achieving self-worth through inner motivation.<ref>{{harvtxt|Hauge|1991|pp=53–58}}</ref>