Who is a Protagonist? What are the different types of protagonists? Who are the other characters your story needs? What are the essential elements of cinematic characters that you can use in your stories? Apart from answering these questions, the masterclass will equip you with skills to find and develop characters for your stories.
Learn with National Award–winning filmmaker Satyanshu Singh, as this marks our 8th collaboration, continuing a valued creative association that brings industry insight directly to our learners. Whether you want to write short stories, novels, plays, graphic novels, short films, feature films, series, or a radio play, this lecture will add immense value to your craft.
Join us on a journey of self-understanding and those around you, and learn how to apply these lessons to your writing.
Highlights
Explore the role of the lead character and identify various protagonist archetypes
Discover supporting roles and ensemble dynamics
Learn the essential elements of cinematic characters
Learn practical techniques for character discovery and construction
Create multidimensional personalities with depth, flaws, and emotional truth
Note: Avid Learning workshops are now ISO 29993:2017 certified, an international standard for non-formal education and training services.
A participation certificate will be provided for the workshop.
Satyanshu Singh is a National Award-winning filmmaker, writer, and professor of cinema, best known for his Netflix series 'Black Warrant'. A medicine graduate, he entered the film industry by writing poems in 'Udaan' (2010) and made his feature directorial debut with 'Chintu Ka Birthday' (2019). Satyanshu directed the web series 'Jehanabad' (2023) that is streaming on SonyLiv. On 'Black Warrant' he worked as a writer, director, and showrunner along with Vikramaditya Motwane, winning several awards including Filmfare Awards for screenplay and direction. As a script consultant, Satyanshu has worked with AIB, SonyLiv, and Kommune. He has also worked as a mentor on Netflix projects in Germany, Thailand, and the Netherlands, while also being a part of mentorship programme with Quezon City Film Commission in the Philippines. Satyanshu has been teaching for 14 years now, and is a guest lecturer/mentor at premium Indian film schools like FTII, SRFTI and Whistling Woods. He conducted two batches of AIB First Draft - a six-month residency program for writers. Many of Satyanshu's students are now working professionals in the film industry having worked in projects like 'Sacred Games', 'Gullak', 'Jubilee', 'Call Me Bae', 'Kota Factory', and so on. Satyanshu has co-authored a Hindi screenwriting book, 'Idea Se Parde Tak' (published by the leading publishing house Rajkamal Prakashan), and has created an online screenwriting masterclass in association with Film Companion. He writes every day. He directs once in a while. And he continues to identify simply as a "film buff".
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Every unforgettable story begins with a character who feels real. But what truly defines a protagonist? Is it courage, conflict, vulnerability, or simply the fact that the story follows them? This masterclass on character creation explores these questions in depth, guiding writers through the craft of building compelling protagonists and the supporting figures who shape their journeys.
A protagonist is more than the “main character.” They are the emotional engine of a narrative. Think of Michael Corleone, whose transformation drives The Godfather, or Walter White, whose moral descent shapes every moment of Breaking Bad. Even in Indian cinema, characters like Rancho from Three Idiots redefine how audiences engage with story by challenging systems and expectations. These figures stay with us because they are layered, conflicted, and constantly evolving.
The session also explores the many types of protagonists writers can create. There are classic heroes, reluctant leaders, anti-heroes, tragic figures, and everyday individuals navigating extraordinary circumstances. Each type carries its own dramatic possibilities. Equally vital are the supporting characters who sharpen the narrative. Antagonists test resolve. Mentors illuminate blind spots. Allies reveal vulnerability. Even minor characters can alter the emotional trajectory of a story when crafted with intention.
Leading this immersive masterclass is National Award–winning filmmaker Satyanshu Singh, whose storytelling demonstrates a deep sensitivity to character psychology. Singh is also known for his work on Black Warrant, where layered character dynamics and moral complexity shape the narrative arc. His work consistently foregrounds individuals placed in challenging circumstances, revealing how internal conflict often drives external action.
Drawing from his filmmaking journey, Singh will break down the essential elements of cinematic characters: motivation, desire, fear, internal conflict, backstory, and transformation. Participants will examine how dialogue, silence, gesture, and even framing contribute to character development on screen. The session bridges theory and practice, offering tools that apply not only to film but also to novels, short stories, theatre, graphic narratives, web series, and radio plays.
More than a technical lecture, this masterclass invites writers to look inward. To create authentic characters, one must observe human behaviour closely and confront personal biases, assumptions, and emotional truths. Character building becomes a process of empathy and self-understanding.
Whether you are beginning your writing journey or refining an existing craft, this session offers practical insight grounded in real industry experience. By the end, participants will leave not only with a clearer understanding of what makes a protagonist compelling, but also with strategies to create characters who feel alive, complex, and unforgettable.
