From a Day of Training Barn Cats (See photos below.) Thursday, November 14th Hey Filmmaker, In screenwriting and filmmaking, one of the greatest challenges is to create characters and stories that resonate deeply with audiences. We want viewers to see themselves in our characters, to empathize with their struggles and victories. This is where the concept of the hedonic treadmill comes in—a psychological principle that, when applied to storytelling, can add layers of realism, tension, and emotional depth to your film. The hedonic treadmill is all about the cycle of desire, fulfillment, and the pursuit of happiness that leads, ultimately, to a return to the baseline. Understanding this concept can help you craft characters who mirror our own ceaseless striving, making them feel authentic and relatable. In this post, we’ll explore what the hedonic treadmill is, why it works in screenwriting, and how you can use it to make your films better. THE MODERN FILMMAKER This Issue: Unlock the Hedonic Treadmill to Craft Unforgettable Characters… Last Issue: Cover Your Ass & Your Films with this One Document… On Sale Now: The Modern Filmmaker’s On Set Filmmaking Dictionary. So There I Was… (Story) So there I was, midway through writing a screenplay that just wasn’t clicking. I had developed a protagonist, Jack, who was relentless in his pursuit of success, going from one goal to the next. But as I re-read my draft, I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. Jack’s journey seemed hollow, like he was just ticking boxes without much reason or meaning. That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of the hedonic treadmill. I realized that, like so many of us, Jack was caught in an endless loop of striving for something he thought would finally make him happy, only to return to the same feelings of dissatisfaction and wanting more. This insight shifted everything. By embracing the hedonic treadmill, I was able to add depth to Jack’s journey, allowing him to pursue goals that promised happiness but never fully delivered. This cycle added complexity to his character and gave the story a whole new layer of tension and relatability. What Is the Hedonic Treadmill? The hedonic treadmill is a psychological concept that describes our tendency to return to a stable level of happiness despite positive or negative events. No matter how high we rise or how low we fall, our happiness tends to reset, leaving us chasing the next source of fulfillment. In screenwriting, this cycle is pure gold. Characters who are constantly seeking happiness through external means—be it fame, fortune, or love—only to find that fulfillment is fleeting, mirror the real-life experience of the hedonic treadmill. This cycle adds a powerful, universal theme to your story, making it resonate with audiences on a deep level. How the Hedonic Treadmill Works in Screenwriting Applying the hedonic treadmill to your screenplay can create a more dynamic and engaging character arc. Here’s how it works: Desire and Pursuit of Happiness In the first phase, your character sets out to achieve something they believe will bring them happiness or success. This initial desire fuels their motivation and drives the story forward. This desire could be a personal goal, like achieving wealth or fame, or an emotional need, like finding love or acceptance. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby believes that wealth and social status will win him Daisy’s love. His pursuit of material success is driven by the belief that it will bring him ultimate happiness. But as we know, this desire becomes a source of endless striving that ultimately leads to his downfall. Temporary Fulfillment When the character achieves their goal, they experience a momentary high. However, this sense of satisfaction is fleeting, and soon they find themselves feeling empty again. This phase is essential because it captures the audience’s hope that the character has “made it,” only to rev