Character Development - is it important?

[8salacious9]

Hi All,

I often see alot of tips on screen writing and filming, but not much on character development, so i was wondering, does anyone promote the use of character development sheets and if so, do you have a template that you use?

iv read that some people oppose them because it doesnt allow the character to grow, however i think as an actor, you perhaps want to know about the character your playing so that you can get a feel for them and mould yourself and them into one new form of that character?

so do you think they are good or bad?

thoughts please...

 

[Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC]

I think it is important enough to include in a pitch, development of a series, and a script.

I believe Syd Field does too. That is why he demonstrates how to write one in his screenplay structure class on DVD.

 

[Shanked]

Character development is crucial. Even in an action script. Anyone who tells you different is probably not a working screenwriter. (And before anyone starts citing counter-examples, keep in mind that the scripts that you as a screenwriter try to get sold are NOT the same as the scripts that are actually used for shooting a movie. Development drastically changes EVERYTHING. Execs will change everything. You just have to know that what gets them to buy your script in the first place is that you've written something that's compelling on paper.... which is very different from the story that actually gets shot, edited and shown.)

As for specific sheets that guide you, I'm sure there are tons of decent ones. You could probably just google the term itself. But asking a forum whether items like this help or hinder is sort of like asking whether a painter should paint left handed or right handed. It depends on the painter! Some people need a visual structure to channel their thoughts. Some people prefer free reign. You'll have to figure this out for yourself over years and years of trial and error.

If you're in London, your local book store will have an array of books on screenwriting. After you've read about three of them, you'll find that they all pretty much say the same thing. Blake Snyder. Syd Field. Lew Hunter. Linda Segar. Just to name a few.

However, if you want to get REALLY serious about writing good characters, read "The Art of Dramatic Writing" by Lajos Egri. Breathtaking work, from long ago.

Shanked

 

[Lucky Hardwood]

I have "The Art of Dramatic Writing" as well. For my last screenplay, I decided that the support characters didn't need to be fleshed out and could be written without bios. After setting the manuscript aside for a few months and re-reading it, I'm in the process of rewriting those characters because they just didn't seem real. My new motto is,"If they speak, they have a back story".

 

[8salacious9]

Character development is crucial. Even in an action script. Anyone who tells you different is probably not a working screenwriter. (And before anyone starts citing counter-examples, keep in mind that the scripts that you as a screenwriter try to get sold are NOT the same as the scripts that are actually used for shooting a movie. Development drastically changes EVERYTHING. Execs will change everything. You just have to know that what gets them to buy your script in the first place is that you've written something that's compelling on paper.... which is very different from the story that actually gets shot, edited and shown.)

As for specific sheets that guide you, I'm sure there are tons of decent ones. You could probably just google the term itself. But asking a forum whether items like this help or hinder is sort of like asking whether a painter should paint left handed or right handed. It depends on the painter! Some people need a visual structure to channel their thoughts. Some people prefer free reign. You'll have to figure this out for yourself over years and years of trial and error.

If you're in London, your local book store will have an array of books on screenwriting. After you've read about three of them, you'll find that they all pretty much say the same thing. Blake Snyder. Syd Field. Lew Hunter. Linda Segar. Just to name a few.

However, if you want to get REALLY serious about writing good characters, read "The Art of Dramatic Writing" by Lajos Egri. Breathtaking work, from long ago.

Shanked

I have "The Art of Dramatic Writing" as well. For my last screenplay, I decided that the support characters didn't need to be fleshed out and could be written without bios. After setting the manuscript aside for a few months and re-reading it, I'm in the process of rewriting those characters because they just didn't seem real. My new motto is,"If they speak, they have a back story".

Which version of the book am i getting of the art of dramatic writing? there are some published in 2004 and some in 2008/9 ??

 

[Cracker Funk]

Hi All,

I often see alot of tips on screen writing and filming, but not much on character development, so i was wondering, does anyone promote the use of character development sheets and if so, do you have a template that you use?

iv read that some people oppose them because it doesnt allow the character to grow, however i think as an actor, you perhaps want to know about the character your playing so that you can get a feel for them and mould yourself and them into one new form of that character?

so do you think they are good or bad?

thoughts please...

I think character development is absolutely crucial. The audience needs to care about who they're watching, and that only happens, I think, when they're watching real people, not cardboard cutouts.

Personally, I wouldn't supply any notes or back-story to actors. Anything that your actor needs to know should be in the script (puts them in the same position as the audience). I think a really good actor will add their own backstory, in addition to what is made clear in the script.

 

[Lucky Hardwood]

Get the latest version of the book.

The character bios and back stories are for me as I write the screenplay. That way, I have a sense of who the characters are and how they should respond to the various plot devices ad other characters.

I keep a digital recorder with me and I dictate any ideas or revisions that pop into my head.

Edited to add: That's just how I do it and my method may not work for you.

 

[_Rok_]

The amount of detail one provides the actor will vary with the type of film you are making. THE EXPENDABLES requires relatively little detail compared to a character-driven film like 12 ANGRY MEN.