Screenwriting : Character detail? by Ann Burr

I believe that the look and action should be showing the character's inner self. Example: RICHARD BROWN, 65 with a well trimmed beard, strides proudly to Fiona. It shows he is proud of himself and his beard unlike some that have an unkempt beard because they just don't care.

I tend to minimize character appearance. If Robert Brown is an older man, I'd write Robert Brown (63). I'm a novelist and a screenwriter. I think the fewer details given is probably the way to go (leave that to the cast director). But I could be wrong.

Well ive just wondered because certain characters need to be detailed correct?

Hey Ann - I think that it depends on whether the full beard and the bowler hat have to do with the plot or dialogue, IE mistaken identity. If not, it might paint you into a corner.

I was thinking that by giving him the description we would know that he was a "well to do " banker. maybe I'm over thinking it.

I agree with Stuart - minimal description and let the reader / director / casting director decide on the details. If it doesn't contribute to the plot, then it's unnecessary. Some example of mine if I may be so bold: Nurse ANN CARLTON, 36, gaunt, worn beyond her years PAUL DELANY, 50s, a man who’s not skipped too many meals MARTIN OWENS, 40s, clean cut, bald and pinstriped RHONDA KEMP, 42, wrestler-built and ruddy You generally won't have any influence over which actor is cast, so leave it fairly vague: just a few well-chosen words to sketch the character. HTH

I have to agree about only having stuff like the watch there if it becomes important later on. Why not just say: Richard Brown, a well to do banker with a well maintained full beard, strides boldly toward Fiona. Since Keith go so bold, here are a few of my recent character descriptions for comparison. LILY, 18 with haunting eyes and delicious enough in her cheerleader outfit to freeze the wildest beast, grills out squirrels with a smile on her face. Mr. Smith, plump with a warm smile and wrinkle free dress clothes covered in cookie crumbs, lounges at his desk. Maria, 18 with deep eyes covering up dark secrets, smiles proudly. Carefully tucks her fairy shirt into her painted on jeans. I mentioned their clothes in my descriptions because those details were important to me to showcase their appearance. As pointed out to me by other people on here, a character's actions should be reflective of who they are.

I think this matters more if you have a particular look for a particular character in your story, which is relevant to the type of person they are. And I always put the age in brackets as Stuart mentioned. But that's my opinion.

What you have here: "RICHARD BROWN older man with a full beard wearing a bowler hat and silver pocket watch attached to his suit coat strides towards FIONA" is in no way too much character description if this is a character that matters. The silver watch doesn't have to be part of the plot to be relevant. Here, it speaks to character: the person who carries a silver watch on his waist is different from the person who checks the time on his iPhone. If this is the type of description you're doing you're fine. =)

I just write the briefest most pertinent details in an introduction. If you want to show him with the watch or whatever, write a moment in your story where he is waiting for a train/whatever and pulls out his watch to check the time. That would be a good place to describe what kind of watch he has. -- In general, I would try to work these character details into the story like this, and space them out a bit too, so we don't get so overwhelmed with descriptions. Thus, you can leave the character intro as brief as possible.

The watch. Is somewhat important. It was give to a young man and then we know who the man grew into when he pulls it out.

WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT by Karl Iglesias - Advanced dramatic techniques to attract, engage, and fascinate the reader from beginning to end…. is a great read. Check out Chapter 5 for characters.

Ann, there's a great site called www.whatascript.com. Lots of great practical tips. Here's the link to the character description section. http://www.whatascript.com/fictional-character-04.html Hope it helps.

Writing For Emotional Impact is my favourite book but sadly contradicts itself on this particular topic. I've found it to be a very personal thing and it took me years to get comfortable with my character intros. There's really no right or wrong way, just what flows well with your own prose.