Following up on yesterday’s post about Objectives and Tactics, let’s look at a prime example: Training Day. Written by David Ayer and directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film stars Ethan Hawke as rookie cop Jake joining a NARC squad led by Denzel Washington’s Alonzo. Jake finds himself sliding down a slippery slope of criminal behavior, Alonzo pulling him along each step of the way.
How To Get What You Want
In Alonzo we find a perfect representation of a character pursuing different tactics. Through most of the movie, he has one main objective – bring Jake into the fold. One way or another he wants to get Jake under his thumb. How he goes about doing that is what makes Alonso such a fascinating character.
In some scenes Alonso seduces. He promises Jake everything he wants – big busts, making detective, providing for his family. Compliments and praise get handed out. Alonso puts on a full charm offensive, attempting to win Jake over.
At other times Alonso tries to intimidate. He threatens to destroy Jake’s career. Jake’s forced consumption of PCP becomes a piece of leverage Alonso holds over him. As the story escalates the threats become more direction acts of violence.
Alonso employs other tactics as well, but he mainly switches between these two poles. The carrot and the stick. Each gets used as the scene calls for. And by continually changing up his tactics, Alonso keeps both Jake and us off-balance. The scenes become electric because they could go any which way.
Applying to Your Own Writing
Alonso’s tactics all fall along a similar line, one driven by the intense charisma of the man. Whatever he wants, seduction or intimidation, he knows he can achieve it through words. Likewise, consider what your character’s main method of achieving goals is. Find different variations and tactics that use that goal. This will help make for a coherent character and more dynamic scenes.