A Little Evil goes a Long Way!

I was only eight years old when I got to see my first comedy at the movie house, with the legendary Al Debbo, called "Pens en Pootjies." These were probably the days before movies got PG ratings. I recall that the story featured a very scary plot (for kids), about an atom bomb that would destroy Johannesburg!

The stakes were high. And I panicked.

At the time, my Mother leaned over and whispered: "Think about it; this is a comedy. It can't be true, right? The bomb is only make-believe."

This little shift in my perspective put things right, and I was ok to sit through the movie to discover that the bad guys got their comeuppance in the end.

But here is the thing; over time I realised how important Villains really are. If you think about it, the Hero has very little to no purpose, if there is no danger of a Villain to overcome. Great villains definitely incite better engagement for audiences, and I daresay people will remember the plot and story better BECAUSE of an effective villain.

PROTAGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS

In scriptwriting, the Hero is called the Protagonist. The ANTAGONIST, is that character who stands in the way of the protagonist achieving their story goal. But they needn't necessarily be EVIL. Yet a great Antagonist creates problems and conflict for our Hero. He/she needs to be in direct opposition to the protagonist, and of equal strength in order to put up a spectacular fight.

Remember that stories are about change. Before that change can happen, there needs to be conflict. The villain provides that, hopefully in spades. Someone (or something) needs to be actively working against our hero, throwing obstacles in their path and making him/her work for those objects of desire. Here is the best part; by watching our hero face these incredible odds, our viewer will develop instant empathy. At the same time, a good villain makes the story events memorable.

If you think about it, memorability is really what we want to achieve in stories, in order to have people repeat the lessons later. This turns my attention to the memorable things your Antagonist or "bad situation" could conjure up for your audience to help them remember why the lesson you will teach, is really important.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD VILLAIN

Why not see if you could villain-ise the problem you're trying to solve in your next talk or presentation? See if you could personify it, make it a character with real purpose:

• The Villain creates a strong CONNECTION between the audience and your HERO.
• The best Villains have a clear Morality & PURPOSE. They're not simply obstructions.
• The best Villains are WORTHY OPPONENTS. Think of James Bond...
• Great Villains have a Compelling & Credible BACK STORY. They have struggles too.
• Have a little FUN! Great Villains LOVE what they do.

SOME TIPS TO ESTABLISH A GREAT VILLAIN

1. Put yourself in their shoes. Establish "The Problem" as a personality, a good Villain. But really imagine this personality and what drives him/her. Why do they exist to torment the Hero, the Audience of your Story?
2. What motivates your Villain? Remember that true authenticity resonates well with audiences. The Villain cannot operate out of sheer opposition to "the cause". The Villain is as much driven as the Hero, they are inextricably connect. What moves him/her?
3. An introduction with a BANG! When it is time to introduce that slide where you position your villain, make sure you do it with impact. Be clear that this issue is dangerous, malicious. It is an image you want to return to regularly to remind your audience why the points you're making, are important!

I once had a writing Mentor say: "Find a (Damn Good) Reason to be Bad!"

And I don't think there is anything as powerful in a story to drive your Hero, as a really bad Villain. To bring it back to a talk or story that will demonstrate your product or service - or an important lesson you'd like to get across - see if you could create a character to step your audience through this problem and help them better understand why your solution is so important.

If you're a speaker or presenter who needs help to craft your key story moments for an important video, be sure to DM me. As a director and writer in Film & TV, I help people craft their visions and execute to perfection.