Developing characters for a screenplay
ByThe success of a film script and eventually the film depends on the characters used in the story. The characters must be well developed and viewers should be able to relate to the characters, meaning that they should not be out of the world characters (It is a separate issue if the character is an extra-terrestrial one). This report dwells into the character development in a film.
1.The first thing is to decide upon the character’s biographical information. The writer should clearly chalk out each of his/her physical features, with special emphasis on disabilities and special ability, if any. It is important for the director and producer to visualize the perfect cast from the character’s physical information.
2.The characteristics or traits define a character. Therefore, a writer must note down the basic traits that define the character. A list of all the traits must be made for further reference and for the film bible as well. However, it must be taken care of that the characterís traits must fit in with his physical setup, and must not be contradictory within it. For example, a patient person could not possibly be restless.
3.The character now must be steered according to the storyline. The mission of the character throughout the story must be figured out. There must be a definite role reserved for each character in the film script.
4.The next step is to decide how the character is going to play its designated role in accordance to the traits it has got. It has often been the case that the character, mostly the protagonist, experiences a change in traits during the coarse of the story, to reach to its destined point. This change in the character must be noted along with the plot that forces the change.
5.The location and the time period of the story must be taken into account while developing the character. While the character must be according to the timeframe the story is in, he/she should also be in accordance to the culture of the location of the film. A character in the 60ís is expected to have major difference with a character set in the 90ís. The audience are supposed to be expecting certain traits related to the location and time period, and it is quite essential to have the audience relate to the character properly.
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One way to make a character relatable to the audience is to give the character a foundation of problems and concerns that most people encounter. An example of such a character is Luke Skywalker from “Star Wars.” Luke was an unsophisticated farmboy who was concerned only with taking care of his daily chores and trying to get into college. Then, he was catapulted into a cosmopolitan situation in which he was forced to save the galaxy, and then he was rewarded with fortune and fame. Audiences loved Luke, which contributed to the success of “Star Wars.”
Another way to make a character relatable to the audience is to imbue the character with traits that most people want to have. An example of this is James Bond. James Bond has no character-growth within each film, and he has no character-growth between films. However, Bond is handsome, tall, physically-fit, confident, suave, well-dressed, intelligent, brave, capable, and wealthy. He behaves the way that most men wish to behave, and he has all of the traits that most women want their boyfriends or husbands to have. So, despite the fact that Bond is the same no matter which era the film is made, the 007 films are always successful.
If characters have attributes or do things to which audiences can relate, and if audiences like those aspects of the character and the character’s life, then the story will be successful.