Dara Marks

“Characteristics like integrity, compassion, ambition, courage, and resiliency only manifest themselves when something challenges their existence. None of us are born brave or cowardly, considerate or neglectful, benevolent or intolerant: These are personal choices we make when faced with situations that demand our involvement. If we choose to rise to a challenge, then we will inevitably engage a new part of our inner being in the struggle. As a result, we expand and grow toward the fullness of our true nature.”
― Dara Marks, Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc: The Secret to Crafting Extraordinary Screenplays

“The single most important connection authors make with their audience is forged through the protagonist. In effect, the audience enters the story through the protagonist; as the protagonist encounters conflict, hardship, and obstacles, the audience encounters those same problems right along with him or her. This is how we become engaged in a story. As the protagonist makes choices, we in the audience make choices, too. However, this doesn’t mean we make the same choices. As observers rather than as actual participants, we often have a clearer perspective on the events. This gives us the advantage of having more objectivity and insight into the situation. Hence, the story becomes more and more compelling as we watch the characters make emotional decisions that go one way when we know they should go another.”
― Dara Marks, Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc: The Secret to Crafting Extraordinary Screenplays