A fictional interview with my Antagonist for Distortion, book 1 of the White Noise series.
As a reader of fiction and lover of all good stories, one of the things I find most troubling is movies, books, novels, and stories that have spent an inordinate amount of time building a protagonist with a realistic feel, believable back-story and motivations, only to have him face either a faceless force as an antagonist or a ‘bad-guy’ that comes across as one-note, plastic, and/or shallow.
As I worked through this story the first first time, pre-2018, I kept hitting the wall many authors call the messy middle, the saggy middle, etc. As I have studied the writing craft since then, including great teachers like KM Wieland and Brandon Sanderson, I realized that what I needed was to include the character’s Want/Lie and Need/Truth, and show them making progression in that journey.
As I explored my Protagonist, and added a second, exploring both, I found that their journey was only half the puzzle.
If I am going to understand the antagonistic force my protagonists (Ash, Dezi) face, I must understand his (Dr. Briar, antagonist) as well. I must spend just as much time considering his character arch as I do theirs. Except in this case, his character arch will be a negative change arch. We will find his life working well for him at the start, and unraveling as he squeezes his hands tighter around the Want/Lie, rejecting his Need/Truth.
While the following interview will probably never make it into the book in whole, and many details will change, especially where he begins to sound too over-the-top, I think this was a successful practice interview with my fictional character.
Special thanks to ChatGPT-4 for helping push me while I pretended to be Dr Briar.
Adapting skills I learned taking Improv from Noah Johnson at Levity Theater Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, https://levitytheatre.com, I decided to fully accept my temporary role as Doctor Benjamin Briar, and let GPT-4 push me as far as we could take it.
* See also my interview with Dezi.
* See also, Earth’s Quietest Place Will Drive You Crazy in 45 Minutes. Inside the room it’s so silent that the background noise measured is actually negative decibels
I hope you enjoy this fictitious interview:
GPT-4 Prompt:
You will help me with a Fictional Character exploration, interview me as if I am Dr Briar:
My name is Dr. Benjamin Briar. I hold a Medical Doctorate (MD), PhD in Neurobiology (or some degree appropriate for studying both mental health and the correlation between the brain, biochemistry, and near death experiences <Suggest a more specific degree if appropriate), and several Master's Degrees in various fields, including ancient near east history, and data science.
My public work has been to work with the homeless and veterans, hoping to find more radical and innovative ways of treating mental illness in all its forms.
My private, secret, sometimes government funded, sometimes private funded work, is studying anything related to paranormal research, quantum mechanics, and possible links between this reality and alternate dimensions parallel and interactive with our own. I want to reach the beings in this other reality, make first contact, and seek their wisdom. The ancients called them , Anunnaki, and Apkallu.
Your first starter "Interviewer: Dr. Briar, thank you for joining us today. To start, could you tell us a bit about your background and what initially sparked your interest in researching other dimensions?"
*He is:
- Highly intelligent
- Cautious
- Prone to take calculate risks.
- Pays attention to minute detail and keeps immaculate records, and keeps his physical environment immaculate.
- Driven to make first contact, but why????????
***
Interviewer: Dr. Briar, thank you for joining us today. To start, could you tell us a bit about your background and what initially sparked your interest in researching other dimensions?
When I was 6, a group of us had dared each other to enter an old “haunted” abandoned house. Silly childhood nonsense you understand, even at that age, I was loath to believe in something as silly and illogical as ghosts.
Well, you see, several of us went in ahead, secretly, through the back to scare the others. As they came up the stairs, we began making soft banging sounds on the walls, scratches, whispering. One of the other boys jumped out of the closet wearing an old tattered clothe.
The younger boys, one of whom was my brother, screamed and ran down the stairs, tripping over each other. My brother, Timmy, stepped through a weak stair, and fell through to the floor beneath. He landed on his back, and when he caught his breath, he said he couldn’t move. Several of the boys ran away, a few wiser ones ran to get help. I stayed with Timmy.
His body grew colder, and his eyes grew distant. At several points, he would claim he’d seen our dog Shagbert, who had died the year before. He claimed to have seen great grannie Briar, who he had barely known. He was two when she died. He said she was there to take him home. He looked at me, earnestly, and said “It’s okay, Grannie B is here, I’m going with her.” He smiled, closed his eyes, and he was gone.
After that night, I began to see things in the dark closet, or in an alley. I chalked it up to boyhood imagination.
But then I met a girl, she claimed to have been given a not-so-imaginary friend by her mother. A friend only she could see. And I never saw him, but I swear I felt him, and then she pointed to where I was feeling the icy cold touch my shoulder, and she said he had his hand on me, and he wanted to help me too, but I had to find him.
Again, I attempted to shrug this off.
Over time, I continued to run into stories, many stories, so many that the odds of them all being mass hallucination started running lower.
Interviewer: That's a truly haunting and profound experience, Dr. Briar. It's understandable how such events in your early life could lead you towards exploring the unknown and the unexplained. These encounters seem to have set you on a path of inquiry that's quite unique. How did these early experiences influence your decision to pursue such a diverse and extensive educational background, particularly in fields that span from neurobiology to ancient near east history?
As much as I tried to dismiss these early experiences throughout my youth and young adult years, they resurfaced in med school. I was doing rounds in the ICUs and CCUs and, contrary to television show outcomes, many patients are beyond our ability to save. I was faced with death more often than you probably want to know.
Many times, nurses are closer to the patients and doctors are busy doing this or that around the hospital, only called in when things go south. My childhood experience drew me to the dying, I wanted to be with them as they took their last breaths. The nurses called me the most compassionate doctor they had on their floor. But truth be told, it wasn’t compassion that drove me to the bedside, it was curiosity. This was an opportunity to apply the scientific method, repeatable results, to my inquiry. I studied the dying, their words, actions, archived the security and medical footage, looking for any sign that this was something beyond brain chemicals.
I was lucky, my medical practice eventually led me to take a limited number of well-to-do patients, which allowed me free time to pursue my private work. Some of the more desperate, sick, and dying wealthy patients even funded my studies, hoping against hope for magic cures.
In my post-graduate years, I pursued additional degrees in science, ancient history, data science, and anything else that I could use to find answers. I found some like minds in quantum mechanics and theoretical physics, positing a potential of alternate and parallel dimensions.
Then I found studies performed by Dr Steven Orfield, at Orfield Laboratories in Minnesota, regarding an anechoic chamber. In his studies, some subjects experienced various forms of hallucinations, even claiming apparitions would visit them, or voices.
When I duplicated this research in my privately funded labs, I found similar results.
I began to experiment with any study that showed any promise. I found that combining a special cocktail of DMT and some proprietary chemistry, with the anechoic chamber produced fascinating results. While I found most research confirmed that Solfeggio frequencies were complete hogwash, the idea stuck with me.
If a negative sound chamber could produce hallucinogenic effects all on it’s own, with no chemical assistance, and chemical assistance was helping me increase this affect, there must be some tie-in to sound on the affect.
For thousands of years, religious bodies around the world have used music, signing, and sound to create religious experiences.
I began to wonder what sounds might be relevant to my research.
Then while researching other sound-related phenomena, I came across a fascinating study around Extremely Low Frequency (ELF), which was eventually used by DARPA as a sonic weapon to destabilize crowds during riots and enemies during battle.
Then I found Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) was related to a phenomena called the “Ghost Frequency”, in which audio played at 18.98Hz, which is below the level of human hearing, is still “felt” by the body as a chilling eerie feeling.
As I experimented with including frequencies in the Ultra High and Ultra Low ranges, in combination with my anechoic chamber and chemical cocktails, the results were fascinating.
While I haven’t yet unlocked the key to first contact, per se, I feel as though I must be very close.
Interviewer: Fascinating, Dr. Briar. Your journey from a medically grounded perspective to exploring the realms of sound frequencies and their effects on human perception is quite extraordinary. It seems that your experiences have led you to a unique intersection of science, history, and the unexplored aspects of human consciousness. In your research, particularly with the anechoic chamber and various frequency experiments, have you encountered any unexpected challenges or ethical dilemmas, especially considering the unconventional nature of these studies? How do you navigate these challenges while maintaining scientific integrity and ensuring the welfare of your subjects?
There is the rub, eh? Ethical dilemmas. If I were to tell my subjects what I hope for them to experience, I would taint the results. So, I obviously cannot tell them. And yet, to even potentially have someone contacting another dimension without their knowledge or consent would seem to most, unethical? Right? What’s a scientist to do?
Interviewer: Indeed, that's a significant ethical consideration, Dr. Briar. Balancing the quest for knowledge with the ethical responsibilities towards your subjects is a delicate matter, especially in such groundbreaking and uncharted research areas. How do you ensure the safety and informed consent of your participants, given the potentially profound and unknown effects of these experiments? Additionally, in your pursuit of contacting other dimensions, what safeguards or protocols have you put in place to manage any unforeseen consequences or risks?
Frankly, we are in uncharted territory. We are dealing with quantum mechanics, quantum realms, higher dimensions of reality than our own space-time, and a myriad of unknowable factors.
But while I am driven to take risks, I am also loathe to risk my research on to a mistake that could cost me everything. We must take risks, but they should be calculated risks, meticulously calculated. As the builders say, measure twice cut once, eh?
Therefore, I have consulted with theoretical physicists, quantum mechanics specialists, expert mathematicians, and I have participated in thousands of forums. I have even attempted to weed through the paranormal research. While most of that wing is comprised of foil-hat wearing buffoons, there are a few golden nuggets hidden among the weeds.
I have also placed safety mechanisms, such as they are, within the chambers themselves. I have emergency shut-off switches for the sound systems, emergency openings for the chambers should a subject feel the need to escape the room, flood lights — Oh, did I mention it works best in the pitch black dark? No light in the room? But I have flood lights that auto-turn on if the subject’s physical health shows signs of danger.
Interviewer: That's a very thorough approach, Dr. Briar. It's clear that while you are pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration, you are also mindful of the safety and well-being of your participants. Given these precautions and your meticulous approach to research, what have been some of the most intriguing or unexpected findings in your experiments so far? Have there been any particular instances or results that have stood out to you, either reinforcing or challenging your hypotheses about other dimensions and their interactions with our reality?
Most subjects experience nothing or things we expect from any weekend drug-induced party.
At first anyway, but that’s another story.
A few, a very few, have shown promise. Typically the homeless and veterans have given me the most fruit. But while the homeless population can sometimes seem more predisposed to potentially already having some quantum connection to the other side, they are also too volatile to give decent accounting of their experiences, or any repeatable results.
My most promising research was using special forces candidates provided by the DOD, coming from all branches. The candidates were informed they were serving their country, and if successful, they would be part of bringing new defense tools to the United States of America. They were given no additional details, again, so as not to spoil the research.
We found that the discipline of the special forces mind was keenly able to withstand the shock of seeing and hearing things. Many times, they would not admit to seeing or hearing anything at first, and only body scanners would tell us something profound had happened.
True, a few mishaps occurred, but that is the way of things. Can we really weigh the life and safety of one individual against the world-breaking good first-contact could make?
Interviewer: It's intriguing that your most significant results have come from special forces candidates, who are trained to handle extreme situations. Their discipline and resilience seem to play a crucial role in these experiments. However, the ethical implications of using these individuals in such experiments, especially under the guise of serving their country, raise some important questions. How do you reconcile the potential benefits of your research with the personal risks and sacrifices these participants are unknowingly taking? And in the cases of these 'mishaps,' as you call them, how do you address the aftermath both for the individuals involved and for the integrity of your research?
What greater good could a person serve their country than helping us make first-contact? Ah! But I have failed to provide context. That’s where my history research comes in to play.
Some of the oldest written records known to Homo sapiens are from the Mesopotamians, including the Akkadians, Sumerians, Ugarits, Babylonians, and their many semitic descendants. They speak of an ancient time in which beings of a higher order came to the early hominids and taught them to think, write, speak, and perform agriculture, blacksmithing. They assume a great civilization was created by the “gods”, and even speak of half-human, half-god beings that served as kings. The ancients called them , Anunnaki, and Apkallu. They are sometimes depicted as fish-men. The Hebrews called the Nephilim and Rephaim, and re-told their story painting Babylon’s proud history as descendants of these mighty kings in a negative light.
I am now convinced that these beings often visit the dying, welcoming them into these plans of reality that transcend our space-time, and that we only need to reach out to them for their assistance to help us re-build the ancient wonders, teach us to think higher, and show us how to be better.
Think of it, no more war, hunger, famine, sickness, mental health disorder, cancer… it could all be wiped away if we would only reach out to these beings to guide us yet again, to help us take the next stage of our evolution.
I ask you, is the life and/or livelihood of a few worth the risk for the many?
Interviewer: Dr. Briar, your perspective on this is certainly bold and thought-provoking. The way you connect your research to ancient histories and mythologies brings a unique depth to your work. However, the ethical considerations you raise are complex. The potential benefits of making contact with higher-order beings, as you describe, could indeed be transformative for humanity. Yet, the moral quandary of weighing individual sacrifices against the potential greater good is a classic dilemma. In scientific research, the principles of informed consent and the welfare of participants are fundamental. How do you navigate these ethical waters, especially in light of the high stakes and potentially revolutionary outcomes of your research? Additionally, have your interactions with these ancient texts and mythologies influenced your scientific methods or the direction of your experiments?
I am so close, to changing everything we think. Physics, biology, metaphysics, religion, all up for grabs. We can have an entirely new way of life. If a few hundred people are driven to insanity, maybe a few take their own lives to escape the insanity, what is that compared to the breakthrough of a new future?
Interviewer: Dr. Briar, the ambition and scale of your vision are indeed remarkable, yet the ethical implications you mention are deeply concerning. The value of human life and mental well-being is fundamental, and the potential cost you describe – the loss of sanity or even life – is substantial. In the pursuit of scientific discovery, especially one that could redefine our understanding of reality, how do you weigh these ethical considerations? How do you ensure that the pursuit of knowledge does not overshadow the value of individual human experiences and lives? And as you stand on the brink of potentially groundbreaking discoveries, how do you plan to share and validate your findings with the broader scientific community, given the unconventional and controversial nature of your research?
Have you heard of philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill? I see these ethical dilemmas in light of Utilitarianism. The rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its overall utility. Actions are considered ethical if they result in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people, even if they may cause harm or disadvantage to a few. Ending war, famine, disease, and bringing about the next stage of human evolution must take precedence over the lives of a few insignificant people, who on balance will not be remembered by history. History favors the bold, and I am the bold.
I have kept my research from the scientific community on purpose. They would ask these questions about ethics, and delay my research. They would probably put me on trail like Galileo Galilei for claiming the earth revolved around the sun. My colleagues are usually decades, if not centuries behind the curve, until someone strikes them with undeniable proof.
I will bring them proof, undeniable proof, I will introduce them to our ancient architects, and then we will usher in a brave new world.
Interviewer: Dr. Briar, your utilitarian approach to ethics, drawing on the philosophies of Bentham and Mill, certainly frames your research in a different light. Your conviction and determination to bring about a transformative change for humanity are evident. However, the ethical considerations you're willing to overlook could be seen as deeply troubling to many, especially within the scientific community. The history of science is indeed filled with figures who challenged the status quo, but it also emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations, particularly when human subjects are involved.
As you move closer to your goal of making contact with these ancient beings and introducing them to the world, how do you plan to address the potential skepticism and criticism from both the scientific community and the public? Furthermore, in an era where public trust in science is crucial, how do you anticipate managing the broader societal implications of your discoveries, especially considering the unconventional methods and ethical standpoints you've adopted?
When the gods walk amongst us again, all other considerations will become mute.
Interviewer: That's a bold statement, Dr. Briar. The idea of reintroducing ancient deities or higher-order beings into our modern world is certainly a concept that would challenge many established norms and beliefs. If and when you reach this groundbreaking moment, the impact on society, religion, and science would be profound. However, the journey to such a discovery is fraught with ethical, moral, and practical challenges. The way you navigate these challenges will be crucial, not just for the success of your research, but for its acceptance and integration into the broader fabric of human understanding.As we conclude this interview, what message would you like to leave for those who may be skeptical or concerned about the path you're taking in your research? How would you address those who worry about the ethical implications and the potential risks involved in your quest for knowledge and contact with other dimensions?
Let them worry. They can catch up when I have shown them the truth.
Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Briar, for sharing your insights and perspectives with us. Your unwavering commitment to your research and the potential it holds for changing our understanding of the world is certainly thought-provoking. As with any groundbreaking scientific endeavor, there will be debates and discussions about the methods, ethics, and implications of the work. Your journey, with its unique blend of science, history, and exploration of the unknown, will undoubtedly be a topic of much interest and scrutiny in the times ahead. We wish you the best in your pursuits and look forward to seeing the outcomes of your research. Thank you once again for joining us today.
Thank you interviewer, this was most helpful. I will have my guards keep you in a cell until such time as I am ready to release your interview to the world. We cannot have you leaking this before I am ready. *he grins*
Interviewer: in a light-hearted tone Ah, Dr. Briar, I appreciate your commitment to confidentiality and the dramatic flair of your approach. However, as an interviewer, my role is to share and explore ideas, not to keep them hidden. I trust that your innovative research and intriguing theories will find their way into public discourse at the right time, under the right circumstances. Until then, I look forward to the day when your discoveries can be openly discussed and debated within the scientific community and beyond. Thank you again for a fascinating conversation.
*Inserting the author now* If this had been a real interview, Dr. Briar probably would have killed the interviewer to keep them silent. He is my antagonist. But I want him to have real goals and drive just like my Protagonist. Is there anything else I should consider for this character's believability?
***
GPT-4: Final Observations
As an author, creating a compelling antagonist like Dr. Briar involves balancing their motivations, actions, and the ethical complexity of their character. Here are some aspects to consider for enhancing
Dr. Briar's believability:
- Backstory Depth: Expand on Dr. Briar's personal history to explain how his experiences shaped his current worldview and ethical standpoint. This can include significant life events, influential people in his past, or pivotal moments that led him to his current path.
- Rationalization of Actions: Dr. Briar's actions, however extreme, should have a logical basis in his mind. How does he justify the potential harm his experiments could cause? Does he see himself as a misunderstood visionary or martyr for a greater cause?
- Moral Ambiguity: Introduce situations where Dr. Briar's actions, while ethically questionable, might have positive outcomes or unintended beneficial side effects. This complexity can make him a more nuanced and interesting character.
- Interpersonal Relationships: Show how Dr. Briar interacts with others, both in his professional circle and personal life. How do these relationships influence or reflect his motivations and actions? Does he have allies, reluctant collaborators, or people he genuinely cares for?
- Internal Conflict: Does Dr. Briar ever doubt his methods or goals? Showing moments of internal struggle can add depth to his character, making him more than just a one-dimensional villain.
- Realistic Limitations: Even the most driven individuals face obstacles. What are Dr. Briar's limitations, be they financial, intellectual, or emotional? How does he respond to setbacks or challenges?
- Public Persona vs. Private Self: Explore the difference between how Dr. Briar presents himself to the world and who he is in private. This can create an interesting dynamic and add layers to his character.
- Influence from Real Figures: Drawing inspiration from real-life figures in science, history, or philosophy can add authenticity to Dr. Briar’s character. However, it's important to ensure that these influences are integrated in a way that supports his unique character traits and story arc.
***
I hope you enjoyed this exercise. :) DG Wolfe
Shalom: Live Long and Prosper!
Darrell Wolfe (DG Wolfe)
Storyteller | Writer | Thinker | Consultant @ DarrellWolfe.com
Clifton StrengthsFinder: Intellection, Learner, Ideation, Achiever, Input
16Personalities (Myers-Briggs Type): INFJ
Clifton StrengthsFinder: Intellection, Learner, Ideation, Achiever, Input
16Personalities (Myers-Briggs Type): INFJ
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