How to Develop Characters for Film

Many of us have a favorite movie character. Some of us can even quote entire movies line by line. While some film characters are created from the minds of writers and directors, other characters can be as real as you and me. What is important for a film character is that he is likable and easy to relate to, that audiences are able to connect with the character in some way.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Develop a main character. This person must have at least one major problem that he or she must resolve by the end of the movie. It might behoove you that you make the character a bit likable or at least have some quality with which the audience can identify.
2. Place the character in an environment that would seem suitable for her. If the character has some sort of power, the environment that the character is in should be along the same lines. If your character is more geared towards reality, some place common or normal would suit well.
3. Have a minor character or a sidekick type character to balance out the main character. Think of good cop/bad cop, where one balances out the other. Your main character should be the opposite of the sidekick character. For instance, either your main character is serious and your sidekick is goofy, or your main character is a bit of a nut with a sidekick that serves as the straight man.
4. Create other characters that influence the main character and may or may not help him or her along the way in the story. Unless the main character is superhuman and knows all then you really don't need other characters. However, since that would be somewhat boring to the audience, you must have other characters help the main character so that the audience can help figure out how to solve the problem with the main character.
5. Remember that characters tell information to the audience even if the other characters in the film do not know the same information. The idea is that the audience knows, sometimes, more than the main character or the supporting characters. This is how the plot develops and the film keeps the audience entertained and engaged with the characters, caring what happens to him from beginning to end.

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