When you're writing your screenplays, do you develop your characters completely before you begin the script, a little and then begin the script, or do you begin writing the script and let the character development happen within the script? The way I've done it in the screenplays I've worked on is so...
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I mould the characters to fit the story. What I write tends to be very much plot based so I need them to behave a certain way. Compounding that is the need to have characters that are fundamentally in...
Expand commentI mould the characters to fit the story. What I write tends to be very much plot based so I need them to behave a certain way. Compounding that is the need to have characters that are fundamentally interesting. Once I have my basic story I create a character alignment matrix. At this stage my characters are just refereed to as things like Girl, BF, Friend, Boss etc and I decide which ones are good, neutral, evil and if they are lawful, neutral or chaotic. This gives me pretty much free reign with the treatment and as I'm writing that I'm searching for likeable character traits for the protag and finding good workable backstories for everybody. Once I get to the end of the full treatment I have a very rounded idea of who my characters are, I've effectively been through the story with them. Then they get names and I start writing. Woven within this of course is theme and the belief system various characters have.
I agree, for me by setting up the foundation of my characters, their likes, dislikes, weaknesses, strengths and the like - it helps me stay consistant in their dialog and actions within the story.
I lean in the middle like you. I have an outline of their personalities, but I may portray certain quirks and characteristics to flow along with the story as I write.
Well, when I'm writing a screenplay, my characters start developing within my script. Its almost like a "brainstorm" before I begin bringing my characters to life and the more I write, the more their...
Expand commentWell, when I'm writing a screenplay, my characters start developing within my script. Its almost like a "brainstorm" before I begin bringing my characters to life and the more I write, the more their personalities start developing. Now, don't get me wrong, for on the screenplays that I have written, at times I do need to take a break, just to get my thoughts in order and to bring out the best in all my characters.
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My characters develop as i write them.