When you are working on a new idea with new characters, how do you work on your characters?
Do you put them in different situations, work on a life CV for them, or just write them?
I tend to do the life CV thing which helps me learn more about them, it's something I picked up from one of Marc Blake's books.
Don't ask me, I'm crap at coming up with characters.
Quote: Afinkawan @ November 5 2008, 12:32 PM GMTDon't ask me, I'm crap at coming up with characters.
Hah, honesty is the best policy Afinkawan.
Except at pitching meetings. 
Quote: Griff @ November 5 2008, 12:49 PM GMTAnd I'm strongly against the kind of exercise you see in some books where you have to decide what kind of trousers/breakfast cereal/Internet pornography your characters would favour as this 'tells you a lot about them'.
Incidentally most of my characters tend to prefer visiting youporn.com, they do say that the writers voice tends to sneak in to some characters.
One thing I do when I invent a new character is imagine where they would each go overseas on holiday and then I go to those places in turn and send myself a postcard from them. When I get home and read them I get a really good sense of who they are.
Quote: Marc P @ November 5 2008, 12:59 PM GMTOne thing I do when I invent a new character is imagine where they would each go overseas on holiday and then I go to those places in turn and send myself a postcard from them. When I get home and read them I get a really good sense of who they are.
You're in a chipper mood today.
I am. 
Quote: Marc P @ November 5 2008, 12:59 PM GMTOne thing I do when I invent a new character is imagine where they would each go overseas on holiday and then I go to those places in turn and send myself a postcard from them. When I get home and read them I get a really good sense of who they are.
An expensive way to write a sitcom.
Fame costs!
and right here's where you start paying... in sweat!!!
I have a long list of questions that I try to answer for each character and that normally does the trick. Most are questions you can answer in one sentence or even with "yes" or "no".
I know some people try to write throwaway scenes to develop characters. I normally find that a waste of time compared to writing a first draft of an actual script, but I did find it helpful for one sitcom I'm developing where I found it difficult to get a handle on how a main character would speak/behave (I put that character in a few 2-hander scenes with another main character who I thought would annoy them the most)
Quote: The Producer @ November 5 2008, 3:29 PM GMTI know some people try to write throwaway scenes to develop characters.
I've read lots of "self-help" books suggesting this as an exercise, but I find it a total waste of time, and extremely boring.
I do, however, spend a LOT of time just thinking about both my characters and plot before laying down a word of dialogue - days, sometimes weeks. I plan a lot in my head before I let the characters loose. This works for me. Rewriting soon irons out any problems.
Oh, and in "The Screenwriter's Bible" there is a "character/action grid" which I found incredibly handy. Like it says on the tin, it's a grid - you put the character's name at the top, then fill in boxes like: role/purpose in story, conscious goal, personal motivation, inner need, flaws, backstory, core trait, dialogue style, psychology/sociology etc.
I tried filling one in when I was halfway through writing the drama script I've just finished and there was more than half of it I couldn't complete. At that point I realised how little I really knew about my characters and it really gave me a kick up the backside. By the time I'd finished, I could fill in practically every box for every character - it really helped.
Quote: Rustle T Davis @ November 5 2008, 10:03 PM GMTI've read lots of "self-help" books suggesting this as an exercise, but I find it a total waste of time, and extremely boring.
I do, however, spend a LOT of time just thinking about both my characters and plot before laying down a word of dialogue - days, sometimes weeks.
Sold much?
Quote: Marc P @ November 5 2008, 10:17 PM GMTSold much?
Are you suggesting there's a 'right' way to go about writing, and I'm doing it the 'wrong' way?
Quote: Rustle T Davis @ November 6 2008, 9:25 AM GMTAre you suggesting there's a 'right' way to go about writing, and I'm doing it the 'wrong' way?
I have absolutely no idea. I'm like you with the exercises stuff.