Dec 24 2007
Character Quotes: Catastrophe/Dr. Berkeley
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Dr. Berkeley is a mathematician that Jacob Mallow hires to complete a project that relies heavily on numbers theory. Unfortunately for Berkeley, the project is actually an attempt to build a weapons-grade mutagen. Whoops. Several accidents later, he is mutated into a dead ringer for Katastrophy, the supervillain in a popular Japanese cartoon show. In the aftermath of his mutation, he has to escape capture from his former employer and devise a serum to restore his humanity.
WRITERS’ NOTES
When designing a character, it’s critical that your audience discern key characteristics about each character. Did the quotes help you associate Catastrophe with any particular characteristics? Which ones? Some variation of self-assured, eccentric and calculating probably made your list. Did you get discontented as well?
What about bitter or a gambler?
[Cadet Davis: Thanks for your question. I suspect that occupations and other demographic details are useful, but they're usually pretty superficial.]
We were also considering 10 other entries, but since the best one of them was “I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but you are irredeemably idiotic,” well…
How about these for Alex?
1. “Have you ever heard of spontaneous human combustion? I assure you, it’s very painful.”
2. “You’re annoying me. People who annoy me have a way of bursting into flames.”
3. “You give the devil your soul before you get into hell. Me, I give out free samples.”
4. “I don’t have time for jealousy. I only have time for revenge.”
5. “It’s imbeciles like you that act as stumbling blocks in my path toward greatness.”
6. “Most people think of me as a creep or a wierdo. I prefer misunderstood. So obviously I’ve never dated before.”
7. “You have two options: walk away and end up humiliated, or fight me and end up a quadraplegic.”
8. “No I don’t want you to find me a girlfriend. The one girl I like is too good for me, and most of the others aren’t good enough.”
9. “There’s no way for me to answer that question and come out unscathed.”
10. “Malcolm’s the hero. I’m the guy who gets things done.”
What was your impression? Hopefully something like vengeful, arrogant, hot-tempered, and socially challenged. I’m not sure about # 3 because of the Judeo-Christian implications. Christian though I be, I believe that this would be out of place in a fantasy world. Personally, #7 is my favorite.
btw, do you think “You just got burned.” is too goofy? It’s a pun obviously.
I love #1 and #2. #10 has a lot of potential, but I think it could be more smoothly executed (perhaps “Why be a hero when you can get things done?”)
I think 8 could work, but I’d recommend playing up Alex’s obnoxiousness. “No, I don’t want you to find me a girlfriend. If she’d give you the time of day, she obviously isn’t good enough for me.”
6 also has potential, but it seems too circumspect. I’d recommend tweaking it to “I am not a creep. I prefer misunderstood.” I think the misunderstood is the punchline there, not the dating line.
I didn’t like #7 a whole lot. Blustery threats are a treasure trove of one-liners. For example, maybe “Do you think we could resolve this peacefully? I’d hate to get your blood on my suit”
On a side-note, #6 is fairly similar to one of our comedic scenes, where a human has a conversation with his mutant-alligator partner that goes something like this.
HUMAN: Alligators are lazy.
ALLIGATOR: We are not lazy! We are efficient.
HUMAN: Hah! Whenever I go to the zoo, the alligators always just sit around doing nothing.
ALLIGATOR: Strategizing! It’s not my fault you want to rush into everything.
“You just got burned” is kind of goofy. Also, it’s modern slang that would probably feel out of place in your story. Another concern is that the phrase will date the story. Readers in 10-15 years probably won’t be familiar with it.
Thanks! I will do the tweaking.
What do you think about “Some people say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I say, where’s the fun in that?”
I like that, but I’d cut out the phrase “I say” from the second line. Also, it might feel more natural if the first line is delivered by another character, without the phrase “Some people say.”
PERSON 1: The best weapon is one you never have to fire.
ALEX: Where’s the fun in that?
That’s pretty funny. I think you have strong comic sensibilities.
Thanks.