So, in a spec script what would you say is too many characters? Watching Netflix, BBC drama etc, there aia always a good a parade of interested parties coming and going, what are your thoughts?
Screenwriting : Quantity over Quality by Kevin Bolger
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I think it's more of a question of how often they are in the script.
The general thought from screenplay reader I've talked to (grain of salt here....) is if they haven't appeared after twenty pages, the audience has prolly forgot about them.
I've written features with dramatis personnae numbering two dozen all involved constantly -- but it gets a bit cluttered. So, if you include them, be sure to KEEP them included -- otherwise it can be either confusing or worse sonsidere a structure flaw.
I think the bigger question is shootng budget and locations. 1000 Redcoat soldiers on horseback is a lot harder to sell that one or two rooms in a San Pedro home with six actors.
BTW- IDK if you have representation, but Netflix will not accept unsolicited or unrepresented material - they are just another mainstream studio now.
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/100386
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Not sure if you are referring to a series pilot script or a feature, but I’d say it very much has to do with quality of effective writing and craft. How are characters shaped and utilized to tell the story? Also content? Context? Generally speaking, sure, too many characters can be problematic certainly in a spec and certainly if not handled well—character after character introduction can confuse and exhaust a reader. I once read a feature spec script that introduced 35 characters in total, most in the first 15-20 pages then the rest were littered throughout. The only way I could keep it all straight was to keep a notebook near me as I read and I had to jot down character names and take notes—whatta chore! Okay... Who now? What now? If your reader has to work that hard just to follow your story, then you have a major problem. ;)
I think it depends on the needs of the story. And you need to take things like genre and intended budget into consideration. A low budget horror movie needs a much smaller cast than a Marvel movie, for example.
Tarantino did it with Reservoir Dogs, introduced a gang of characters in the first scene at the diner. Then shifted to two characters in next scene with Mr White & Mr Orange. Read the script and see how he did it on the Page.
“Predator” introduces 7 Soldiers in first scene.
Read a stack of scripts, steal/copy and figure it out yourself.
I think TV series and features are way way different. My last feature had about 10 characters in all that were significant to the story telling. Some other minors. There’s not a lot of time to hash out a lot of character’s - story plays more then characters or their arc because of that.
I’m working on a series pilot now. Still about ten main characters but a lot more peripheral returning characters in future episodes. Some eluded to or touched on in the first episode but hashed out later.
Saw a video by McKee - he was talking about why major writers are turning to non - network series. “It’s like having ten one hour movies every year to hash out your characters. “ “Think “breaking bad” - no way you get into Cranston head that deep in a movie and they were always adding characters - bringing back characters to future hash out the story.
Interesting point, in the midst of a collaboration atm adult dark humour kinda thing, and it's going really well, best I've written me thinks. However, we can't decide on the main characters name, we're getting there but I'm surprised how difficult it is.