Character Development

#1

Character Profiles

  • Create detailed character profiles for each major character. Include information about their background, personality traits, physical appearance, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.
  • Explore their past experiences and how these have shaped their worldviews and desires.

#2

Character Arcs

  • Plan character arcs for your main characters. An arc is the journey of a character from one emotional or psychological state to another over the course of the story.
  • Consider how your characters will change, grow, or evolve as a result of the events in the screenplay.

#3

Internal and External Conflicts

  • Develop both internal and external conflicts for your characters. External conflicts are obstacles or challenges in the story, while internal conflicts are emotional or moral dilemmas.
  • These conflicts drive character development and provide opportunities for growth.

#4

Backstories

  • Craft compelling backstories for your characters that explain their motivations and behavior. A character's past can reveal their vulnerabilities, fears, and desires.

#5

Flaws and Imperfections

  • Give your characters flaws and imperfections that make them relatable and human. These flaws can create internal conflict and drive the story.

#6

Goals and Motivations

  • Clearly define what each character wants and why they want it. Their goals and motivations should be tied to the central conflict of the screenplay.

#7

Character Relationships

  • Explore how characters interact with one another. Relationships can reveal facets of their personalities and add depth to the story.
  • Consider dynamics such as friendships, romances, conflicts, and alliances.

#8

Character Descriptions

  • Use descriptive language to convey a character's appearance and demeanor. These descriptions should provide visual cues for the audience and reflect their personality.

#9

Character Consistency

  • Ensure that your characters' actions, decisions, and dialogue remain consistent with their established traits and motivations throughout the screenplay.

#10

Character Growth and Transformation

  • Show character growth through their actions and decisions. Their transformation should be believable and earned, reflecting the challenges they face.

#11

Symbolism and Metaphor

  • Use symbols and metaphors associated with characters to enhance their depth and complexity. Symbolic elements can add layers of meaning to the story.

#12

Contrasting Characters

  • Create contrasts between characters to highlight their differences and strengths. Contrasting characters can create conflict and tension.

#13

Character Voices

  • Give each character a distinct voice and speech pattern. This helps the audience differentiate between characters and adds authenticity to dialogue.

#14

Character Evolution Chart

  • Consider creating a visual chart or timeline to track each character's development and arc throughout the screenplay. This can help you maintain consistency.

#15

Character Entry and Exit Points

  • Pay attention to how characters are introduced and exit the story. Their entrances and exits should be meaningful and contribute to the overall narrative.

#16

Character Foils

  • Introduce foils—characters who contrast with the main character—in order to highlight specific qualities or traits.

#17

Character Monologues and Soliloquies

  • Allow characters to express their inner thoughts and emotions through monologues or soliloquies, revealing their inner conflicts and motivations.

#18

Beta Readers and Feedback

  • Seek feedback from beta readers or writing peers specifically on character development. Ask if the characters are relatable, interesting, and well-rounded.