Re: Moral ambiguity
I'm not sure I understand your problem. If you're shooting for an indie film, then representing morally ambiguous characters can be a big plus. With indie's you're trying to attract a more intellectual audience who can tolerate moral ambiguity.
In commercial films, you have to be more careful. Presenting a protagonist or an antagonist in a morally ambiguous light can be risky. For a protagonist, his morally reprehensible trait should have a justification that we can relate to. Like the protag of MINORITY REPORT, who was a drug addict due to his inability to face the tragic loss of his young son.
For the antagonist, a villain who, at least from his POV, has a moral reason to act intrigues most audiences. Purely evil villains are cartoonish. Okay for action flicks, but not for more serious material. For example, the antagonist in THE PATRIOT was just too evil to be believable. If he were shown to be a great loyalist, he would have been more intriguing.
I'm not sure I understand your problem. If you're shooting for an indie film, then representing morally ambiguous characters can be a big plus. With indie's you're trying to attract a more intellectual audience who can tolerate moral ambiguity.
In commercial films, you have to be more careful. Presenting a protagonist or an antagonist in a morally ambiguous light can be risky. For a protagonist, his morally reprehensible trait should have a justification that we can relate to. Like the protag of MINORITY REPORT, who was a drug addict due to his inability to face the tragic loss of his young son.
For the antagonist, a villain who, at least from his POV, has a moral reason to act intrigues most audiences. Purely evil villains are cartoonish. Okay for action flicks, but not for more serious material. For example, the antagonist in THE PATRIOT was just too evil to be believable. If he were shown to be a great loyalist, he would have been more intriguing.
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