True or false Story
-True stories do not offer neat and relevant endings.
- Life is unpredictable.
- In a story, we CAN AND MUST control the events and sequences so that it gives the appearance of being like life.
Characterization: Defining the character
- Every story starts with a character
The character is the Heart, the soul and the nervous system.
It is through your characters that the viewers experience emotions.
<Without a character, there is no action.>
<Without action, You have no Conflict>
<Without conflict, you have no story>
<Without story, you have no screenplay>
Developing Characters
When developing a character, ask yourself:
-Who is your character?
-What does he want?
- What is his quest?
- What drives him to the resolution of the story?
Developing Character
1) Establish your main Character.
Character should have a 3 Dimensional Structure.
1) Appearance/ Physiology
2) Sociology
3)Psychology (how he thinks)
a) Physiology
- Sex
-Age
- Height, weight
- Colour of hair, eyes, skin
- Posture
- Appearance
- Defects, abnormalities, deformities, birth marks, diseases
- Heredity
B) Sociology
- Class ( Lower, middle, upper)
- Occupation: Type of work, hours of work, income, condition of work, attitude towards organization, suitability for work
- Education: amount, kind of schools, marks, favourite subjects, poorest subjects, aptitudes
- Home life: Parent’s living, earning power, orphan, parent’s seperated/ divorced, parents’ habits, parents’ mental development, parents’ vices, neglect, character’s marital status
- Religion
- Race, Nationality
- Place in the Community; leader among friends, clubs, sports
- Political Affiliations
- Amusements: Hobbies, books, newspapers, magazines he/she reads
c)Psychology
- Sex life, Moral Standards
- Personal Premise, Ambition
- Frustrations, Chief Disappointments
- Temperament: Choleric, easy-going, pessimistic, optimistic
- Attitude towards Life: resigned, militant, defeatist
- Complexes: Obsessions, inhibitions, superstitions, phobias
- Personality: Extrovert, introvert
- Abilities: Languages, talents
- Qualities: Imagination, judgment, taste, poise
- I.Q. , E.Q.
- What is the deep and personal secret this character has which he is desperate to protect/hide?
Developing Characters
1) Seperate the Components of his life into 2 basic catergories:
a) Interior
b) Exterior
>> Interior
The Interior takes place from birth until where the story begins.
It is a process that FORMS character. { when you start formulating your character from birth, you see your character build in body and form}
-How old is he when his story begins?
- Where does he live?
-Does he have siblings?
- What kind of childhood did he have?
- What was his relationship to his parents?
- What kind of child was he?
- Is he married, single, widowed, separated or divorced?
EXTERIOR
The Exterior life takes place the moment your story begins to it’s conclusion.
It is a process that reveals character.
- Who are they and what do they do?
- Are they sad or happy with their life?
- Do they wish their life was different? Another job, another wife?
You must create your characters in relationship to other people or things
ALL Dramatic characters interact in 3 ways:
1) They experience conflict in achieving their dramatic need. Eg. Need money- Rob bank, rob a store, rob a person
2) They INTERACT with other CHARACTERS.
3) They interact with THEMSELVES.
How do you INVENT characters?
- Try turning them upside down.
A monk who is devoted to his religion… but is a football fanatic.
A serial killer… who obsession is to kill other serial killer.
A common street rat… who loves to eat and cook only fine food.
Storytelling Quiz
Review
- 3 storytelling tools
- Memory
- Observation
- Experience
- Aristotle’s storytelling techniques
- Developing 3 dimensional characters
- Writing for an audience
