Quote: David Chapman @ June 13, 2007, 10:47 PMWell I bloody am!
This is almost a contradiction of what you said elsewhere.
oi! How did you know???????
In what way have I "almost" contradicted myself?
Characterisation Page 2
Firstly asking for characterisation and then saying it's not needed.
Quote: David Chapman @ June 14, 2007, 8:12 AMFirstly asking for characterisation and then saying it's not needed.
I am afraid you misunderstood.
Characterisation is needed but you don't have to write a pen portrait of a character - you should reveal the character through dialogue and actions.
Know your characters first before you begin writing, know their quirks and habits, know how they speak and how they would interact with others and react in situations. Write maybe a paragraph of description for each character simply for your own benefit.
Then in the actual script when a character is first introduced I usually say for example...
MARTIN, 18, makes a post on a forum.
The name and age is all that's important in the actual script I think unless you need to mention specific things like what they wearing in order for the joke and/or plot.
Saying that I would probably still send a Character List along with my script to producers, just giving a brief paragraph on each character just for the simple fact some producers may look at it and go "That's a great character..I can picture him on TV" or "I could imagine *whoever* playing this character"...because if you get them thinking like that just from a description surely that's a good thing.
It helps to describe physical habits or features of a person:
PAUL, 18, only has one leg and picks his nose a lot.
But enough about me.
Alan has a point I find if you have a long enough script the characters will reveal themselves, but on the other hand if you wish to write a small synopsis on a character, who are we to argue as long as it's know longer than a paragraph I don't see the harm.
I agree with that. And leave Alan alone everyone, this forum has alot of yes men, including me, so we need some objectivity.
I agree
Okay, never had anything published but here's my view:
As said before, the characterisation needs to come out in the script. The viewers/listeners won't have access to character profiles and have to connect with the characters straight away.
Regardless of whether the producers want a character biog or not, if you characterise properly in the script, they'll be impressed. They won't be any more impressed with a character biog.
That said, if you do write a character biog, that is no reason to make your characterisation less within your script.
Basically, here's my advice how to set your characters up: start with a scene that has them pushed to the extremes of their character. So, if your character is well-rounded but panics when stressed, have them stressed in your very first scene, bringing out that aspect of their character. If they're rubbish in bed, start with that. Et cetera.
That way you'll grab the viewer/listener/producer regardless.
With regards to casting, if you get anywhere, they will ask you for a casting brief of the characters. Then, you can expand a bit and they will probably ask you for accents, class, pace of how the character speaks and who you'd have 'ideally' in the part and a number of suggestions of actors who you think match the bill. They'll cast to this brief. I'd have thought if you've written it properly the class and pace of speech would probably come across in the script (arguable).
Dan
I have no idea what the fook this means.
I am not experienced, I had never even written a sketch before I arrived here.
If people give opinions on characters quirks etc it would be nice if they could explain what they mean.
In my head I see a character that I am reading about. Sometimes it may be completly different to the writers description. (If someone could find me out a sketch that does have more description please show it)
Reading has got to be different to seeing.
So if Mr AA would be so kind as to enlighten me, I may see his point and re think.
I am a learner. Somebody please teach me.
Quote: ajp29 @ June 14, 2007, 10:58 AMI agree with that. And leave Alan alone everyone, this forum has alot of yes men, including me, so we need some objectivity.
Objectivity is needed in order to learn. Constant repeats aimed at the same person over & over again are not. Targeting is not nice. Opinions good or bad are. Please give your opinions honestly yet tactfully. If you cant do that dont read the work you know you will dislike. The same opinion over & over is not necessary.
Quote: charley rance @ June 14, 2007, 7:59 PMI have no idea what the fook this means.
I am not experienced, I had never even written a sketch before I arrived here.
If people give opinions on characters quirks etc it would be nice if they could explain what they mean.
In my head I see a character that I am reading about. Sometimes it may be completly different to the writers description. (If someone could find me out a sketch that does have more description please show it)
Reading has got to be different to seeing.So if Mr AA would be so kind as to enlighten me, I may see his point and re think.
I am a learner. Somebody please teach me.
All I suggest you do is this:
First, think of a character. What are that person's hopes and fears? What are their circumstances?
Once you understand the character, use that understanding to dictate how the character speaks, acts and reacts.
It's as simple as that.
Right. Thank you Alan. That was put perfectly.
Another thread that started out usefully and developed into a personal spat. I'm not taking sides on that, however, if anyone's interested in my views on this fundamental Sitcom component then they can be found in the Writing section of this forum under 'Advice' in an article entitled Sitcom: Why Audiences Laugh. Sorry to those who have already trawled through it ... if you have then treat this post as a shameless plug!!!
Didn't notice a spat on this occasion.
You seem to have put a lot of work into your opinion piece, which seems very long indeed.
As long as you know the characters they'll be funny for you!
For me, I prefer a character to grow organically. I start off with one of the basic premises (greed, vanity, gluttony etc) and build it from there. That's why my word and FD documents all have about eighteen drafts, because I refine and re-write stuff all the time to make sure it fits. It also allows me to take lines from previous drafts and use them - as long as they still fit - which means, hopefully - I have a better product when the script is finished.
Saying that, the last two scenes in Lance Boyle are becoming a nightmare.