How to Create Interesting Characters for Screenplays

One of the most important elements in a screenplay is character. Character is the story's centerpiece that communicates your premise and forces the plot to move forward. People go to see movies to see people solving problems or fulfilling a need.

So, what makes a character interesting? The most interesting characters are those who are complex. Their personalities cannot be summed up in a word or two. Characters have their own quirks, their own way of approaching each action in life. For example, their educational, political, social beliefs, etc. will all lead to how a character interacts in the "screenplay world."

Characters should exhibit textures and layering like an onion. Most fully realized characters come into a story with their own character forming backgrounds. Four aspects of character are 1.) A clearly defined need or goal 2.) A strong conflict involved in meeting that need or achieving the goal 3.) A plan of action 4.) A resolution to both the inner and outer conflict the character feels.

Character development is the arc in which the character reaches the point of moral decline and strives for change. It may also be refered to as the axis of character development. A character has to go down to get the most drama out of the story. In Jaws, the character of Brody has to face that a kid was eaten by the monster shark on his watch. He vows that this will not happen again, and later decides to hunt and kill Jaws.

A memorable character creates a personal element that we all relate to. People relate to feelings and emotions though they might not have dealt with the same experiences. Always know your character and stay with that character throughout your story, structure = character.

Character derives from desire, for example Top Gun; Maverick wants to be the best, hence all of his actions will back up this idea of what he wants. The goal is to keep desire pounding inside the characters heart the entire story. Create danger that confronts desire, this adds spice/conflict to your story and helps characterization.

A "Ghost" is another useful tool for characterization. It is something that happened to the character in the past that won't go away. In the Last Samurai, Nathan Algrin, suffers from alcoholism due to a violent past in which he followed an unjust order to kill a peaceful tribe of native americans. That is his ghost which causes him to either sink or swim. Thus, allowing character growth or retrogression.

In short, characterization is a powerful tool and a very important element in screenwriting that must be developed in order to have a sucessfull screenplay.