Research on how to create characters

Characters are the most important aspect of story telling.
Characters bring the story to life, allowing recognisable actions and emotional connection with story, and so should be the first thought in bringing a story to script. The story and the character intertwined and are inseparable. The character is also built to serve both the story purpose and constructional purposes.

The screenwriter should go on a journey of discovery with their characters to find out what drives them, and how they respond to situations.

Action is often about establishing character early in a screenplay and simultaneously setting up story elements for later in the screenplay. It is worth to note the distinction between description and action. 

Description: a written or spoken account of an event, person, or object 

Action: the act or process of doing something 

Types of Characters: 

• Protagonist: 'hero', the main character 
• Adjuster: help adjust or modify the direction r action of the protagonist 
• Antagonist: principal opposition to the protagonist and whose actions place obstacles in the way of the protagonist 
• Catalyst: structure-centred role and is largely neutral in intention towards protagonist. Presents new situations that the protagonist has to respond with action 
• Supporting Characters: add levels of reality to the diegetic world, offering colour and detail key in facilitating the direction of either protagonist or antagonist while some will be structurally significant, acting as a bridge between scenes or signposting future events 
• Voice of the author character: embody the themes and messages of the screenplay, and often their actions act as commentary on the actions of the other characters 
• minor characters: non-speaking roles that are there to 'dress' locations and create a sense of verisimilitude (the sense of the real)

When creating a character you should find their voice: the way they speak (phrasing), the language they use (vocabulary), any slang term that categorises them (personalising), the pace and patterning of their speech (rhythm) and the reason for them opening their moths (motivation).


How to make a three dimensional character: 

• allow "out of character" characterisation. Try not to limit them to a certain behaviour, be open to the unexpected. A good character is is unexpected and what their reactions can be like. Ask yourself: are your characters surprising you with their quirks
• Give them a sense of grace, destiny or belief. Allow the character to feel like he or she has greater purpose. 
• pair conflicting emotions. Try pairing your character’s strong belief in a particular ideal with some small cloud of doubt that slowly eats away at his or her perspective.
• use a character's physical appearance as an expression of inner feelings; pathetic fallacy.
• Draw from your own experience. Create a character that people can relate to it.