Characters development

For this research post I looked into character development, specifically rebellious teenagers, because our main character sneaks out and does things behind his parents back. I wanted to understand why teenage characters act rebellious in movies and what actually makes them feel realistic instead of just random.

From my research I learned that rebellious teenagers in films are usually shown as wanting freedom, independence, or excitement. A lot of the time they break rules because they feel controlled by their parents or they just want to experience new things and have fun.

 I also noticed that in many movies teens are influenced by a girl they like, which makes them take risks or do things they normally wouldn’t do. Their emotions and relationships kind of push their decisions and move the story forward.

A good example of this is Project X, where the teenage characters throw a huge party to impress people and gain attention, especially from girls, which leads them to make reckless choices and break a lot of rules.

Another example is Superbad, where the main characters go to a party mainly to impress girls and fit in socially, which causes them to lie, sneak around, and make impulsive decisions. Both movies show how teenage rebellion is often connected to social pressure and wanting approval from others.

This connects to our project because our main character sneaks out to go to a party mainly because a girl he likes is going to be there. His rebellious behavior creates tension, especially when he gets caught by his mom. It makes the character feel more realistic because he is not perfect and makes impulsive decisions like real teenagers would.

I also learned that good character development usually shows consequences or growth. Even if the character starts off rebellious, the story shows how their actions affect them. In our film, the fact that he doesn’t remember the night shows the consequences of his choices but also creates mystery for the audience.