When writing a sitcom, how many characters is too many charcters?
How many characters is too many characters?
We've discussed this before, but I can't find the thread.
catskillz had about 40 in his, I think? Can't remember how we resolved that discussion though?
I think 6 is a good max for main characters. Before it gets a bit messy. You'd best work with 4 if you're new, then you can pour all your talent into less characters and not risk thinning it out.
Quote: Griff @ August 13 2009, 4:50 PM BST141.
If you're writing it on Twitter.
Quote: Leevil @ August 13 2009, 4:51 PM BSTWe've discussed this before, but I can't find the thread.
catskillz had about 40 in his, I think? Can't remember how we resolved that discussion though?
I think 6 is a good max for main characters. Before it gets a bit messy. You'd best work with 4 if you're new, then you can pour all your talent into less characters and not risk thinning it out.
Yeah, I looked before posting 'cos I thought it had been discussed previously...
Good points.
Quote: Leevil @ August 13 2009, 4:51 PM BSTWe've discussed this before, but I can't find the thread.
catskillz had about 40 in his, I think? Can't remember how we resolved that discussion though?
I think it was 35 actually. I've made quite a few changes since then, and now I've probably dumped at least 10 of them. As I said though, most of them only appear in one or two episodes, for short amounts of time (think Millhouse's parents on The Simpsons, or Zap Brannigan on Futurama).
I'm at a total of 13 
Obviously not all main.
Whatever works for your set up!
Only add a character if it adds to the script
Shows obviously work with any number
Steptoe 2
Allo Allo - shit loads!
Its getting the number right for your set up.
Producers want to keep costs down.
Actors cost money.
Quote: bigfella @ August 13 2009, 5:31 PM BSTWhatever works for your set up!
Only add a character if it adds to the script
Good advice mate 
smoking room had ten lead characters. I think the key to that (as I've learned from feedback to my own work) is not having them all in the room at the same time.
Quote: Sebastian Orange-News @ August 13 2009, 5:56 PM BSTsmoking room had ten lead characters. I think the key to that (as I've learned from feedback to my own work) is not having them all in the room at the same time.
So did Drop The Dead Donkey. Add the secondary characters in and it was over 20.
Personally it'd scare me to death writing for that lot. I'd much rather stick to 3 or 4.
Quote: random @ August 13 2009, 5:52 PM BSTGood advice mate
Bill's point is also quite valid.
I'd try to keep the number down. Can two of your characters be combined into one?
Quote: bigfella @ August 13 2009, 6:07 PM BSTBill's point is also quite valid.
I'd try to keep the number down. Can two of your characters be combined into one?
Yeah just having a think, who could be cut if they had to be.
I think that Leevils suggestion of 6 is a pretty good number to work with.
As Lee says trying to write for more than ten must be a nightmare.
My own effort at the moment has 6, with a minor extra one popping up occassionally
But hey, what do I know?
As has been said there are plenty of success stories with more.
I am now triyng to write stuff with thre characters amx as I reckon it will give my stuff a bit of an edge in terms of getting it made (it wil just bethe shit writng that will let it down), but I did write something with ten lead characters and although all the feedback was to cut the cahracters down it was a really suefl excercise in character writing to try and make all ten of them ttoally different from one another. Also one of them was a mute which helped me quite a bit.
Quote: Sebastian Orange-News @ August 13 2009, 7:10 PM BSTAlso one of them was a mute which helped me quite a bit.