Hi There,
With the various scripts I have been reading / working on / watching recently, I have been thinking a lot about what makes for successful, compelling characterisations. There is so much wonderful stuff on TV at the moment and three of the characters that have stood out for me in my viewing over the last few weeks have been – Suranne Jones as Ann Lister in Gentleman Jack by Sally Wainwright; Daisy Haggard as Miri in Back To Life by Daisy Haggard & Laura Solon; and Stephen Graham as Joseph in The Virtues by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne. All three characters feel unique, charismatic, hugely conflicted and absolutely compelling.
Here is the description of a character who came out of a ‘Creativity’ course I ran recently – created out of an observation of a real person in the concourse of Euston station!
‘Isaac – an orthodox Jewish man in his mid-40’s. Dresses in traditional Jewish clothes. On the day in question he was walking around carrying more boxes than he could manage, in a sweaty, anxious state. Isaac works in his father’s longstanding, traditional hat shop in Golders Green and hates it. His father looks down on him and has always chipped away at Isaac’s self-esteem. Isaac is not good at the job and has no real interest in it. Isaac is single and very private. He is not happy. But what Isaac is good at it is gambling. He is obsessed with gambling and has a real flair for it. It is an addiction but it’s one he is in control of – and over the last few years he has made a very decent income from his secret gambling that has supplemented the paltry income he makes in his father’s milliners.’
I’m very interested in this character too – his secrets and inner conflicts are instantly engaging.
It seems to me that we can never do enough thinking about our characters and how we define them. I have compiled two slightly different lists below – of questions you can ask about your characters. In the first list, none of these qualities are absolute – but I hope all are useful in helping you assess the particular proclivities and qualities of the characters you’re creating. Above all, it seems to me that the really compelling characters are often those who are going through the knottiest internal (and external) struggles. So if your character is an introvert, force them to make an important public speech; if they’re rich, force them into a world of poverty; if they’re urban, transport them to the countryside! Etc etc
CHARACTER QUALITIES
Introvert – extrovert
Active – passive
Gentle – aggressive
Covetous / bitter – philosophical/ accepting
Open / secretive
Rich /poor
Materialistic / thrifty
Honest / dishonest
Cruel / kind
Solitary / gregarious
Indulgent/ self-denying
Knowledgeable / ignorant
Scared / bold
Urban / rural
Articulate / tongue-tied
Snob / person of the people
Anxious / relaxed
Self-assured / full of doubt
Religious / sceptical
Carnivore / vegan
Drinker / teetotaller
Fashionable / dowdy
Graceful / clumsy
Athletic / out of shape
Beautiful / ugly
Humorous / serious
Funny / no sense of humour
Conservative / socialist
Patriot / internationalist
Royalist / republican
Sporty / studious
Old / young
Greedy / charitable
Fast / slow (mentally & physically)
Loving / hateful
Animal lover / animal hater
Neat / a mess
Superficial / deep
Sly / open
Conventional / unconventional
Slim / obese
Tall / short
Smiley / grim-faced
Short fuse / calm
Over-sexed / asexual
Heterosexual / gay
High-status / low status
Hirsute / bald
Penetrating stare / avoids eye contact
Energetic / sloth- like
Ambitious / unambitious
Bully / victim
Employer / employed
Employed / unemployed
Corporate / freelance
Brazen / discreet
Wind-up merchant / tactful
Superstitious / rational
Challenging / conciliatory
Meticulous / spontaneous
Organised / chaotic
Sociable / unfriendly
Academic / pragmatic
Predictable / mercurial
Ordinary / eccentric
Vain / unselfish-conscious
Healthy / ill
Carer / cared for
Patient / impatient
Tolerant / intolerant
Original / derivative
Happy / sad
Arrogant / humble
CHARACTER SPECIFICS
Where are they from?
Where do they live?
House/ flat / caravan / barge etc + details of their home
Is their house cluttered or minimalist?
What is their job?
What is their height/size?
Who do they live with?
Who do they love?
Who do they hate?
Do they have pet/s?
Do they vote? Who for?
What do they eat/drink?
Where do they shop?
What newspaper do they read?
What is their sexual orientation / proclivities?
What do they wear?
What colours do they wear?
What shoes do they wear?
How do they wear their hair?
Who are they close to?
Who are their friends?
What are their interests/hobbies?
What / Who are they afraid of?
What makes them laugh?
What makes them happy / sad?
What do they watch on TV?
What mode of transport do they use?
Do they have a car? What sort?
What is their religion?
What is their ethnicity?
What public figures do they most admire / hate?
Who would be their 4 dream dinner party guests?
What are their secrets?
What secret habits do they have? Who do they tell their secrets to?
What accent do they have?
What is their significant family history?
TRIBUTE Series 2
I’m still working my way through the many excellent scripts – sorry it’s taking me longer than I expected but I haven’t forgotten about this and will get back to you once I’ve finished all the scripts – which won’t be for a few more weeks, I’m afraid.
The next newsletter will be on Friday June 14th,
All the best
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
Twitter: @PhilipShelley1
May 31st 2019
