What are dual protagonists?

The function of any protagonist in a screenplay is to drive the plot forward in the pursuit of their goal. Throughout the character's journey, the audience then witnesses them undergo a change either to who they are or how they view the world. Dual protagonists then must accomplish the same thing but with two central characters instead of one.

How do you unify two separate protagonists together?

When writing a screenplay that features dual protagonists there are two techniques that ensure your characters' stories are unified. Firstly, each of their individual stories has to be thematically related and show alterations on the same fundamental idea. Secondly, since the two protagonists are often separated, they must share an overall plot goal that they equally want. This causes them to journey either towards or apart from each other.

How do you write a story structure that accommodates both protagonists?

You must abandon the very comfortable notion that screenplay structure is fixed and unchanging. In order for your story to handle the journeys of two separate characters, you need to adopt a parallel narrative structure. This will multiply your story structure possibilities by giving you several avenues for approach, like tandem narratives and flashback forms.

Dual Protagonists: How to Handle TWO Lead Characters in Your Screenplay

Table of ContentsDual Protagonists: Breaking the MouldThe Function of a ProtagonistEmpathy for Your ProtagonistThe Dual ProtagonistsThe Three Plot LinesCompeting for a Shared GoalThe DepartedThe Inner + Outer JourneysThe Shawshank RedemptionA Unifying ThemeChallenging Their BeliefsThe PrestigeRobert Angier and Alfred BordenThe Structure of Dual Protagonists Tandem NarrativesFlashback Forms In Summary Dual Protagonists: Breaking the Mould There is no law in screenwriting that dictates you must only have one protagonist, or main character, in your screenplay. Granted, most writers choose to dedicate their

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