Screenwriting Bar & Lounge - Question About Subject and Character

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Question About Subject and Character

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Screenwriting Bar & Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competitions or Screenwriting in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4826
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 10:44pm
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Topic: Question About Subject and Character

Posted By: CourierChris
Subject: Question About Subject and Character
Date Posted: 17 May 2011 at 12:08am

Hello!

I participated in the Short Screenplay Challenge last year and understood that the location and object didn't have to be in the script throughout its entirety. Now, does that apply to this as well? And does the character have to be the MAIN character? Very hard to have "a baby" be the main character in a "Ghost Story". Same with the subject: fruit tree.

Thanks for clearing this up for me!

Replies:

Posted By: Scarlet Screenwriter
Date Posted: 17 May 2011 at 6:46am

Look, CC ... I'll chime in, but there's no guarantee given or implied with my advice ...

The genre is paramount ... though they seem flexible if a horror has some chuckles ...

The location needs to play some part, though I remember a couple of short screenplays where the fantasy construction sites were next door, down in the valley and at the end of a journey, so they did not play a major part.

The character or object must appear or be addressed at some stage, but doesn't have to be a constant. My character is a musician, but not necessarily the protag.

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They seek him here, they seek him there, those damned writers seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that damned elusive Scarlet Screenwriter! (Oh, phuck, that doesn't even rhyme!)

Posted By: Catlynn
Date Posted: 17 May 2011 at 10:39am

According to the official rules:

"In order for an Entrant’s screenplay to qualify for the Screenwriter’s Challenge 2011, each Entrant’s screenplay must be within the assigned Genre, the Subject must be integral to the plot of the screenplay, and the Character must be a relevant character used in the screenplay. "

I was a little confused at first, since this particular competition calls it a "subject" rather than an object or a location, as to whether the story had to be all ABOUT the fruit tree, or if it just needed to be significant to the plot. The wording above implies the latter, but I've posed the question in the Q&A forum for clarification. (No response yet.)

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http://forums.nycmidnight.com/rnd-2-ht-2-its-Only-human_topic5088.html=en=en - Screenwriters Challenge Round 2: "It's Only Human"

Posted By: DJewell
Date Posted: 17 May 2011 at 1:39pm

I'm assuming that "integral to the plot" means if the subject isn't in it, you got no story. And I think you can judge your character the same way - they should be important enough that without them, again, you got no story. But that doesn't mean they have to be the main character.

And, HEAT 8, I am even more astounded at your assignment: Ghost Story/Baby/Fruit Tree. Those will be some interesting reads...