Short: The Raven
From a production standpoint, $5k and a two day shoot gets you a lot more than it used to. Shot on a RED ONE.
[via Filmmaker IQ]
From a production standpoint, $5k and a two day shoot gets you a lot more than it used to. Shot on a RED ONE.
[via Filmmaker IQ]
It's time for the world to meet some of your best creations.
When I'm watching a movie or TV show for the first time, I always pay attention to how they introduce their characters. I want to know how the writers craft a scene that gets the most out of their protagonist or antagonist and how that scene sets them off on their journey.
A great character introduction can hook an audience, etch an image in our minds, and leave us craving more. And keep us watching or reading a spec.
On the other hand, a bungled introduction can make even the most intriguing character fall flat in seconds. So, how does one nail that crucial first impression?
Let's dive in.
Forrest Gump
Paramount
The first thing I do when writing a new screenplays is I figure out who my characters are. I do this by developing them in a way where I know what the story needs from them and how to develop their arcs.
Once those decisions are made, I try to introduce them in a way that feels unique to who they are, and hints at who they need to become.
So if a character is a wimp, I'd introduce them being bullied, and show the audience a slight hint at what that arc should be moving forward.
Or if I was introducing a villain, I would have them doing something villainous.
No matter what, your character introduction should reveal to the audience something about the person they're about to meet.
And that should be dictated by who they are as a person.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Paramount
Film and television are fundamentally visual mediums. Often, our first encounter with a character is a purely visual one, before a single word is spoken.
Think of the chilling silhouette of Darth Vader against the backdrop of a captured rebel ship, or the striking close-up of Holly Golightly gazing into Tiffany's window as she nibbles on a pastry.
Costume, setting, body language all contribute to building a character's image before the story even begins to unfold.
Let your visuals amplify the characterizations of these people.
Think of unique ways to expose them.
Introducing characters in film and television is, ultimately, about striking a balance. It requires a deft combination of visual storytelling, purposeful action, carefully chosen dialogue, and perhaps a dash of the intangible, the 'it' factor that makes certain characters rise above the page and come alive on screen.
Let's look at a few examples.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Disney
Alright, so you read through and still need some help? We developed this template to help you suss out how to introduce your characters in your movies and TV shows.
It takes all the basics of what we've talked about and amplifies it from there.
I also think the intro gets boiled down to just the first scene, when really in all of act one you're giving us more and more about the character. So I tried to make the template help carry you deeper into the story as well.
1. The Basics
2. Visual Impression
3. Action Beats
4. Words that Matter
5. The Intangibles
How to Use the Template
Example (Abbreviated)
At the end of the day, your intros are going to be as unique and voicey as the story you're writing. They're a great opportunity to excite the reader and get an actor excited about playing one of these roles.
So put in extra effort to make them standout.
Let me know what you think in the comments.