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Talismans

Any physical object which takes on symbolic meaning to a character or characters — believed to confer supernatural powers or protection. From the Greek telesma (consecration ceremony) and telos (result).

References

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DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1)

How can you use physical objects to reveal inner character?
AI✦Chas and Stu build a taxonomy of talismans--physical objects imbued with character meaning--and argue they’re fundamentally different from MacGuffins or other story devices because they reveal inner character rather than merely drive plot.✦
⏱ 1h 37m
31 OCT 2022
Listen to so you can write talismans that are powerful tools for accessing character!
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In this series, Chas and Stu discuss TALISMANS. Physical objects that are imbued with meaning by a character or characters. They’re a powerful tool to access inner character… →

DZ-94: Talismans (Part 2)

How can you use physical objects to track character change… wordlessly?
AI✦The entire episode dissects how physical objects become talismans that wordlessly articulate character journeys, tracking three detailed examples across Thor: Love and Thunder, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and In the Mood for Love.✦
⏱ 2h 7m
30 NOV 2022
Listen to write objects that accumulate powerful meanings across your story and create unspoken emotional payoffs.
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In part two of our two-part series on TALISMANS, we break down the beats used to turn objects (in a broad sense) into talismans; how talismans can track character journeys and transitions; and how they can be used to create powerful moments without words… →

Check Out

DZ-11: Adventure for the MacGuffin!

Is the MacGuffin truly interchangable, and how does it impact on your character writing?
AI✦When Brad and Stu examine the Ark versus the Skull, they’re really comparing how talismanic objects function as emotional anchors for character development--some talismans carry the weight of a character’s journey, while others just sit there waiting to be found.✦
⏱ 1h 49m
30 JUL 2014
Listen to discover why the MacGuffin's emotional weight--not its function--determines whether your audience cares enough to follow the entire adventure.
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Stu and Chas are joined by a special guest - Scriptmag contributor Brad Johnson - to discuss how the choice of the MacGuffin can impact on the quality of an action/adventure film. To test this thesis, our heroes compare the auspicious originals of two iconic franchise with their, um, less-than-auspicious 4th instalments (in other words we compare RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK with KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL and THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL with ON STRANGER TIDES) as well as look at two recent & original entries into the genre, namely NATIONAL TREASURE and PRINCE OF PERSIA… →