CREATING A VILLAIN WE LOVE TO HATE

How do you create a villain we all "love to hate"?
Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter that's how!
His performance still haunts us to this day.

  By: Russell Cera

  Undoubtedly, we've all heard the phrase over and over. "Now that is a villain I love to hate!"

  It truly is a strange anomaly isn't it?  - How in experiencing film and literature, the human psyche often surrenders it's natural convictions about causing chaos, mental or physical harm, and ultimately death and destruction, when carried out by an engaging or charismatic villain or villainess. This is usually due to a ponderous quality we all possess - an instinctual morbid interest in "doing the wrong thing" or the desire to acquire power and influence over others to evoke an emotional response. Thankfully, these  inert traits are usually benign in most of us and often aided by the natural disconnect from reality that entertainment is intended to provide.

 Then what would make us "love to hate" a villain or even maybe "love to love" one? Some antagonists in film and literature are so terribly loathsome and bereft of empathy that our only desire is to see them suffer the most awful end by the hands of our hero, where others are charismatic, convincing, or just plain look so cool in their bad guy attire, we can't help but wonder what it's like to be them or see things from their perspective. Still others possess motives that are caused by personal tragedy, neglect or abandonment - likely reasoning for having a chip on one's shoulder, and so these things become instantly identified as a means of justifiable vengeance. Then there are those that travel the route to transcendence, proving that anyone, no matter how bad they may be, can become good and whole again.

  Anyway you slice it, the truly wise storyteller develops an antagonist that is equally important to their tale as the hero is, albeit through ulterior design. To put it plainly, creating a villain we "love to hate" is just good business. The Bad Guys (or Girls) will often sell books, movie tickets and merchandise from t-shirts, to toys, to collector memorabilia and costumes all on their own without the aid of their goodie two shoe adversaries. From Darth Vader to Hannibal Lecter to Dracula, the examples go on and on how villains can go beyond their otherwise disdainful trappings to become iconic figures that remain with us for all time.

  So let's delve a little further, dissecting several types of wrongdoers one might encounter to see which of them, above all the rest, qualify for a villain we "love to hate".

Who can forget the Exorcist?
One of our greatest supernatural fears - possession.
Pure evil is in no way "lovable"!

 The first type we will discuss is the malevolent villain, or an embodiment or disembodiment of omnipotent evil.  Some examples of these would be the Devil, a demon, superior alien invaders or another form of paranormal intelligent terror that we have very little to no ability to alter it's purpose. There are of course plenty of books and films who's villains are denizens from other dimensions or planets. For many, the fear that these beings evoke is real and can be incomprehensible, especially to those of us who are heavily rooted in faith, legend or superstition.  Rarely does a villain of this type become one we "love to hate" because it is nearly impossible to connect with them on any basic human level.  They are beyond our scope of comprehension and fall so far outside the "rules" of morality that their motivation simply paralyzes us.  True, that some villains of this category can be "caricatured" to the point of iconic adoration. One for example - Freddy Krueger of the Nightmare On Elm Street series, is an evil entity from another dimension with complete enmity for humanity.  Yet what makes him different over other examples of his sort, is that he was in fact human prior to his present state, thereby making the natural connection we need to formulate to identify with him on a personal level.

Jaws - A prime example of a creature doing what it does
naturally, being demonized by humans that get in the way.

  Another villain type coincides with the first, but deserves a category all to themselves.  These are animals or creatures either earthbound or possibly not, possessing non human intelligence nor malevolence to our species as a whole.  For the sake of this article I will call this a benevolent villain, not friendly by our standards, but at the same time having no concentrated malcontent for humans. In other words, they do what they do because it is in their nature to do so.  Often however for dramatic purpose, fiction creates the villain from what is natural, exaggerating the ferocity and will of the animal to coincide with our human motives or capabilities.  A great example of this is of course Jaws, or the shark and those that followed it in sequel after sequel.  A shark is not an evil creature nor does it have the capacity for human intellect or emotion.  Therefore it doesn't attack people because it has the desire to do so.  Yet it invokes a primal fear in us... after all, who wants to go out by being eaten? So in essence, from our standpoint it becomes a likely villain in both literature and film.  Possibly the worst effect a successful movie like Jaws can create is for the animal itself in reality, as the real bad guy - the human, makes it their mandate to hunt them for pleasure or convenience.  Unlike Jaws, one such villain that bucks the benevolent trend is King Kong. Although he isn't truly a villain at all to the audience, he becomes an adversary to the human characters he encounters in the film.  Since Kong is in fact an over sized gorilla who's real world counterparts are primates, their ability to emote and feel much the same as people do delivers the endearing quality that makes a creature identifiable.

  The prior are two examples of villain types that, although memorable and effective, rarely become an example of why we "love to hate" the bad guys.  Now let us look at some formulas that actually do fit the bill. We will note once again, that the human factor is the overwhelming determination in creating a memorable and "lovable" villain.

The late Heath Ledger's Joker made us
all consider his reasoning by way of  an
unforgettable performance.

  Let us discuss what I like to call the valid cause villain. This is the bad guy who, that regardless of how maniacal or deranged, has a practical opinion about a situation, society or a system as a whole, along with a plan to change it to his or her liking.  Heath Ledger's interpretation of The Joker in The Dark Knight is a perfect example of the valid cause villain - terribly disturbed, and yet his philosophy for chaos over order is not only conceivable but also reasonable in a way.  In other words, there are several moments where, through the character's dialogue we sit back and say, "yeah I get where he is coming from!"  This is an incredibly powerful tool in connecting an audience with a villain.  If you can make an entirely sane person contemplate that there is a believable motive for evil, regardless of how wrong it is, suddenly you've made an indelible human connection.  Often with these villain types however, their motive is so resolute that there is absolutely no chance for rehabilitation or redemption, so the only way to deal with them is to terminate them or lock them up for good... hopefully!

Tim Curry's Lord of Darkness - yes a malevolant
villain but tragic as well.  After all he was in love.

   A related type of antagonist to the prior is the emotionally compromised or tragic villain.  In very much the same way, the tragic villain has a justifiable vendetta, but his or her anger is fueled by a loss of love.  Of all the categories we could use to identify a character, both bad or good, love is the strongest human emotion and therefore can be the cause for our greatest and worst achievements.  We've all suffered loss, and some of us have had the misfortune of that loss coming by way of suicide or murder.  It is an unbearable pain that brings out the most primal urges.  Audiences will, regardless of whether they agree with a villain's methods, always connect with a character who has turned to a dark side due to the loss of a loved one by way of unnatural death.  Bram Stoker's Dracula became one of the most notorious fictional villains; due to the mistaken suicide of his bride, he relinquished his natural life to become our most adored vampire.  Yes people, Dracula did it for love.  In this way, we can naturally relate to him, seeing that his his actions are purely inspired by loss and a resolute desire to reclaim the love that was once his.

Darth Vader - unanimously everyone's favorite film villain.
You have to admit though, he is sort of a big softie!

  Finally we come to our last and most popular villain category - the redeemable villain.  This is one that audiences unanimously "love to hate", or possibly even "love to love" by performance's end!  That is because no matter how terrible this character is throughout the breadth of the story, a turning point makes them see things from a different side, finally relinquishing their evil ways to reformation.  Why is this so identifiable?  All of us inertly want to believe that we all get a second chance in life; an opportunity to right the wrongs and find inner peace.  Most come nowhere close to committing evil deeds in our lives and so our misguidance is microcosmic in scope compared to say, a fictional villain.  However in film and literature, knowledge that forgiveness and acceptance can come to those who have paid a great price for their deeds makes a redeemable villain identifiable.  Darth Vader of course, one of film's greatest villains is a transcendent character.  By the finale of Return Of the Jedi, we have totally forgiven him for his downfall to evil as he makes a conscious decision to relinquish his position and destroy the Emperor himself.  Why does he do this?  Love of course!  Love for his son Luke, who he witnesses being tortured to near death.  Hence we come to realize that a redeemable villain can be entirely complex and enjoyable, with motives and reasoning that are affected by rational emotion over unbridled evil.

  Okay, so we've covered several types of villains in film and literature and attempted to understand what makes one worthy to "love to hate".  We can all agree that no matter what formula an antagonist might naturally fall into, the greatest of them may possess several traits or motives all in one.  A tragic villain will often become a redeemable one, and more than likely the same character may have a valid cause for it's treachery!  We have identified however, that the villains we unanimously connect with are the ones that emote to us on a human level or make an audience understand what it may be like to see things from their side.  

  Forget not, that regardless of formulas or types that articles like this discuss, the actor or writer creates the villain character with dialogue, vision or interpretation, making the performance the factor above all other things that makes us "love to hate" them!  You also have to admit, regardless of their deeds, a lot of them just look damn cool or come wrapped up in pretty awesome costumes!

  Which villain do you "love to hate" above all the rest?

RUSSELL R. CERA OF RJA CREATIONS CREATES COVER ARTWORK FOR ACCLAIMED NOVEL CRY WOLF CRY

Completed front cover

Author and conservationist Russell M. Cera

  Cry Wolf Cry, a novel by accomplished writer and wolf conservationist Russell M. Cera, is a beautiful tale that interweaves tragic and triumphant lives both human and lupine. The novel is currently available through all major online distributors, receiving impressive accolades, including a five star rating on Amazon.com from it’s readers! The book was originally published with a different jacket illustration, but in 2010, Russell M. Cera commissioned his namesake, Russell R. Cera of RJA Creations, to redesign the cover layout in order to better compliment the outstanding story.  “It was truly an honor to illustrate the jacket for such a wonderful piece of literature, my Uncle being the author aside.  Likewise, it's a thrill to know that the jacket artwork can be the eye catcher to interest a possible reader or buyer.” - RRC

Original study of Reese character

                                                              

Completed character of Reese

Original study of Elizabeth character

Completed Elizabeth character

  

  

  As for the art itself, Russell (R.) took reference and guidance to recreate the human and wolf characters, from early sketch through to hand painted completion. “My uncle had a very clear vision as to how he wanted each character to appear, and it was a challenge recreating that vision while achieving a sense of overall realism.  I wanted more than anything, to create a more dynamic, vibrant image that truly complimented the book.” - RRC

Original study of wolves

                                                              

In progress rendering of Jacy for back cover

 

To learn more about Cry Wolf Cry, author Russell M. Cera and his latest writing projects, please visit www.librabooks.net.  The book may be purchased directly from Amazon.com as well as other leading distributors.  For wholesale discounts of ten or more books please email rcera10@optonline.net. Learn more about and see images of  the art process on the SPECIAL FEATURE page.

SUPERMAN REQUIEM CHARACTER POSTERS BY JAMES LINCKE RELEASED!

Issue 1 Martin Richardson as The Man of Steel.

The Man of Steel Is Back! Superman Requiem, a fan film by acclaimed director Gene Fallaize, asks you to Believe once more on 11/11/11!  The heroic efforts of the talented cast and crew culminates in a web released full length feature sure to delight Superman fans around the globe.  

Issue 2 Stacy Sobieski as Ali Noels.

  One such fan, James P. Lincke of RJA Creations is eagerly anticipating the release, not only because the superhero is so near and dear to his heart, but he also has the distinct honor of being the exclusive illustrator to the film!  Apart from several projects James did for the production, he is currently in the midst of illustrating a series of exclusive teaser posters based on portrait shots of the main cast.  

Issue 3 Paul Khanna as Alex Luthor and
Lucy Bruegger as Eve.

 "It's an honor to be working on the film and to contribute artwork to help promote the project world-wide.  The cast and crew have been working so hard for many many months and I personally can't wait to see how everything comes together in November!  It's the level of professionalism, creative ingenuity and devotion that Gene and his team have exuded that's so inspiring to me!  Superman Requiem truly is a labor of love and a film that I'm sure will leave a lasting impression for fans of the franchise.” - JL

  As for the actual artwork, James chose to work on translucent vellum, which has a great tooth for texture and building color in a signature style that employs crosshatch shading. His choice of medium for the posters is Prismacolor pencil mixed with acrylic embellishments.

  To learn everything about Superman Requiem as well as view trailers and the actual film screening as of 11/11/11, visit www.themanofsteelisback.com.  To view all of James Lincke’s teaser posters for the film as well as other art contributions for the film, please visit the SPECIAL FEATURE section coming soon  to RJACreations.com!


Check back for more issues coming soon!

THOUGHTS FROM AN ASPIRING AUTHOR

FRONT COVER ARTWORK FOR TWISTED
EARTH BY RUSSELL R. CERA

By: Russell R. Cera

 I think in my heart of hearts, I've always wanted to be a creative writer of some sort, or at very least author something from start to finish.  For years I toyed with the idea and eventually took up a contributing editor's position to an industry magazine, turning out "how to" instructional pieces on the processes of art making.

 It was fulfilling to some degree, but at the same time difficult and tedious. All that hard work and effort to kick out an article in a week only to have it sliced and diced to the point of it being the editor's creation over my own.  Let's just say... creative writer's angst unfulfilled.

 So one day out of nowhere, I sat down and started to conceive an epic battle scene into words, which looking back now was more or less a page or so straight up, ripped out of Lord of the Rings.  Oh, I wrote on and on about the emergence of evil forces from the bowels of the underground while a stout hearted beleaguered troop of heroes rallied against them.  Terrifically original stuff right?

 I fondly remember loving it at first review and hating it by the fourth or fifth.  If I were to find it now in the bowels of forgotten Text Edit files I would more than likely read it and roll in the aisles if I had aisles to roll in.  Well, that was the end of that.

 Now before I go on, let me add one more piece to this puzzle.  I am not a reader. No, that does not mean that I cannot read, it is just that I prefer visual storytelling to the written word.  Why?  My imagination is constantly at work, conjuring imagery of all sorts to the point of exhaustion.  While reading I do much the same, concentrating too hard on how I want the people and places I'm visiting to look, sound and act.  There are times I can blow through an entire page only to realize I haven't truly comprehended what I've read as I concentrated on the exact facial expression of the main character back on paragraph one!

 You're more than likely saying, this isn't going anywhere. To which I might be so bold to tell you you're right!

 Let's skip forward now to several years ago.  RJA Creations was in it's infancy stages and myself and James Lincke had begun putting the pieces together of what would eventually become Twisted Earth, an epic illustrated full length novel that is currently in the works.  It happened purely by accident I imagine, for TE up to that point was a series of sci-fi/horror art pieces intended for a merchandise line.  It did however have a twist.  The art and product had a story to tell, and with each new piece of art, the plot would unfold via a web based community site that offered all kinds of special content.  The idea was visionary.

 Yet good ideas often go unnoticed, as did this one, and in picking up the pieces after realizing there was no financial or promotional backing to our efforts, we decided the entity itself was too good to die.

From there, we began to formulate a main character and a villain based on one of Jim's recurring images.  We pieced together the antagonist and protagonist conflict, their motives, desires, eventual victories and downfalls.  Plot line soon followed, storyboarding and outlining next.  Before we knew it, we had something brewing for good or bad.

 Who knew?

 Some time into the project, I began to write again.  This time, I felt or at least I thought I had a good command on prose and the "what to do and what not to do" rules of writing. I would study other's works, albeit their technique over an entire story, applying my own structure and how I wanted it to read over trying to follow a particular formula.

  Ah ha!

 Twisted Earth was finally the vehicle I needed to express my writing aspirations... and so it happened! Now enough of back story, because this blog is not about me, although it seems that way, but more about the challenges of becoming a storyteller and writer, and possibly some advice or general grievances that others out there like me trying to do this can relate to.

  I thought for a while I had it figured out, but what I figured out, was that writing is difficult beyond any means of explanation!

  I have an incredibly renewed respect for the art form and those that perform it to seeming effortlessness.

  At first the process seemed rather linear, start here and end there.  It is not.

A GATHERING OF DRAFTS, PLOTS AND SYNOPSIS WRITTEN
BY RUSSELL R. CERA AND ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES LINCKE

 Countless drafts, ideas, thoughts - words words words... they all seem so wonderful as they emerge. Then you review, and tweak, adding this or that.  Maybe a new plot line comes out of nowhere, and where you thought you were going to write four sentences on a thought, it turns into four paragraphs or even a chapter.  Double back again and you'll find grammar mistakes, or start reconstructing prose to sound more eloquent.

 Later you realize some things are in the wrong place.  Maybe this belongs in chapter one where that belongs in chapter five. Your character descriptions aren't up to par, so you add and revise. Actions occur but you have not explained how the character got into the place they needed to be for the action to occur.

  It's MADNESS I tell you and it can drive a person to drink!

  So here are seven lucky things I'll present, based on knowledge, research or advice from accomplished writers and my greatest inspiration of all, my wife.  An avid reader herself, she has embarked upon her very own vampire novel and is going through much of the same challenges as I and possibly you are!

 Take this then for what it is, and I promise that even I would be the best benefactor to the following suggestions!

 1.  The number one thing I've learned is to JUST KEEP GOING.  DO NOT STOP!  Do not be so discouraged by a lack of ideas that the fire just dies.  Keep writing every day!  Even if what you are kicking out is awful, and you know it, you are making progress.  Put that piece to the side for another day when you've got more juice or an idea on how to tie it in!

 2.  Another thing I practice, which may be wrong, is to write about a particular scene or piece that I am really enthusiastic about doing.  If you have a clear vision or you can play it out in your head... action, even dialogue, no matter what or where it falls in a piece, get it out!  You are obviously going to be more excited to emote something you feel very strongly about.  Write it down. Worry about how it falls into place later.

3. Once you feel comfortable with your plot line, outline it!  Provide descriptions of what each chapter is trying to say, how it starts, what happens, and create the hook that takes the reader to the next chapter!

 4. Write a terribly non descriptive bare bones draft first, very little on description and almost outline like.  Fill it in with all the good stuff from suggestion two once you know what point A and point B is.

 5. Try your best not to be overly descriptive (a challenge I am currently working on).  Allow the reader to piece things together and conjure up their own visions.  If you try too hard to describe a character or setting down to the very last detail, then the reader becomes instantly bored with words, denying them personal creative expression within their mind!

 6.  Know your climax and plan it out.  If you know where you are going to go it is much easier to reach the destination!

 7. Your characters are more important than anything!  A reader needs to connect and identify with your protagonist. Make them do the same with your antagonist - then you've really got something cookin'!  Make sure to develop clear cut roles and motives, attempting to revolve everything around a central conflict!

 Let's face it, writing and storytelling is an unmatched art form - period.  On every level it is extremely difficult, time consuming and nerve racking.  Yet, at the very same time can one think of anything more fulfilling than telling a story from beginning to end, taking your characters through ups and downs to their eventual destinations?  I can't. No one can guarantee how it will be received.  No one can  guess that they might be the next J.K. Rowling.  So don't worry about those things. And even if, as of the posting of this article, I have acquired a horrific writers block and have lost my way, I know it is only temporary.

 If it's inside of you, as this is in me, trust in this. The only means to sanity is to get it all out and just finish it!