Comments on: Character Fears http://www.paulhackett.ca/2007/05/26/character-fears/ Paul is a writer-director and sometime internet boss. He created the popular website Guitar Noise and directed the film Not Much. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:39:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: oneslackmartian http://www.paulhackett.ca/2007/05/26/character-fears/comment-page-1/#comment-10 oneslackmartian Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:46:23 +0000 http://www.paulhackett.ca/2007/05/26/character-fears/#comment-10 Like a lot of writers, I have a series of questions that I answer about each character. Now, I’m not sure where I got this idea from, but I respond to the questions in the voice of each character. This does a couple of things . . . . First, it helps me establish the “voice” of each character. I get a chance to start talking and thinking like the character before I actually write anything in the script. Second, it allows me to see how close to the “truth” each character can really answer. Meaning that after I quote the character, I then also write what the REAL answer is. For instance . . . . What are you afraid of? “I’m afraid that I’ll turn out to be so much smarter than Betty, that we won’t have much in common.” (He’s afraid of commitment.) So his response tells me as much, or more, about his character than my “omniscient” answer. And the gap between his answer and the truth is where much of his “inner character” lies. Anyhow, I thought I’d share. (He thought if he could explain this to someone else, he’d better understand it himself!) Like a lot of writers, I have a series of questions that I answer about each character. Now, I’m not sure where I got this idea from, but I respond to the questions in the voice of each character.

This does a couple of things . . . .

First, it helps me establish the “voice” of each character. I get a chance to start talking and thinking like the character before I actually write anything in the script.

Second, it allows me to see how close to the “truth” each character can really answer. Meaning that after I quote the character, I then also write what the REAL answer is.

For instance . . . .

What are you afraid of?

“I’m afraid that I’ll turn out to be so much smarter than Betty, that we won’t have much in common.” (He’s afraid of commitment.)

So his response tells me as much, or more, about his character than my “omniscient” answer. And the gap between his answer and the truth is where much of his “inner character” lies.

Anyhow, I thought I’d share. (He thought if he could explain this to someone else, he’d better understand it himself!)

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