10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn From Star Trek Into Darkness
8. Supporting Characters Should Be More Than Just Plot Points
Part of what made the 2009 Star Trek so great was seeing this crew of seemingly different people come together. We got to know each one and they all had a specific place in the narrative. It really felt like a team being born. Sadly, we didnt get quite as much full Enterprise action this go around.
Star Trek Into Darkness is mostly the Kirk, Spock, and Scotty show. Uhura and Carol Marcus are thrown in from time to time when it is convenient to the plot. Bones and Chekov fix things when they need fixing and Sulu just pretty much fills in the captains chair when Kirk is away. If you have a script with a wide variety of characters, make sure that you are using them for more than just plot points. Moving the story along is certainly important but they should also help the protagonists grow along the way. Otherwise, they are not being used to their full potential. Even better if the supporting characters get a character arc of their own (more on this later).