I was taught to give every character a name, JANE as opposed to LANDLORD, however small. This seems cumbersome though, and really, really over the top. What's the current line people are drawing?
Screenwriting : Character Names by Erick Mertz
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Who taught you that? And what was their argument? The most important thing is readability. How does it add to readability to have my one-off character described as JOE rather than MECHANIC? HAKIRA rather than MASKED NINJA?
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I've read in the "Screenwriter's Bible" by Dave Trottier and in a few other places that if it's a lead or a major supporting character, give him/her a name, but if it's a minor character that's only in one scene, a generic name such as "Landlord", "Hot Dog Vendor" or whatever their job or situation is, that's fine, or if they're multiple, minor characters such as "Cop 1", "Cop 2", etc.
@Kerry -- Screenwriter's conference MANY YEARS AGO. The advice never struck me as good advice. Especially if that character is unknown to my hero/protag.
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I can appreciate all points made. I approach this subject from the POV of an actor... Let me 1st say that while I am a writer, producer & director, I was & am an actor 1st. In all aspect of production, I look at all matters from all points of view - especially when they involve the talent. With that, for a screenwriter, it is easier to list a title, ie "LANDLORD" - no specific name(s). For an actor, it helps - me anyway - to have something more to go on. A name would serve that. Being a "JANE" will get a better performance than "LANDLORD". If the character's name is "LANDLORD", perhaps this a discussion the director should have with the actor... I hope you all are well!
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Erick, if you ever see the person who threw up that advice again, kick them in the throat for me.
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I will sometimes give minor characters an adjective to go along with their label. Grumpy Landlord, Angry Man, Bratty Kid, Flustered Mom, etc.
Right on CJ
I really think this is a matter of preference. I wouldn't give a name to the generic server character at McDonald's whose only line is "do you want fries with that?" but I have no issue naming a character I know won't appear again, if s/he has a number of lines in a scene. I don't spend hours coming up with perfect name - it will be something like Boss Todd or Co-Worker Jim - but I like to give even the smaller characters a bit of personality. I also do what Alan said above, Grumpy Landlord or Aggravating Shopper or what have you. I recently read a script where characters who had chunks of dialogue had no names; didn't like that at all.