All good screenplays revolve around strong, believable characters. While spectacular visual effects, thrilling action, and cool sets will bring people into the theaters, only characters will keep audiences rooting for their fates until the final cut. People remember stories because they connect with the characters. They feel invested in the character’s quest, choices, and eventual transformation.
But writing compelling characters isn’t just about picking a great name and crafting an intriguing background. A strong character has a goal, a flaw, an important relationship, and the ability to evolve over the course of the script.
Give your character a goal
Each main character should have an important desire. Their goal serves as the driving force of the story, dictating most of their choices.
Some characters want to make it big. Others want to fit in, find forgiveness, seek justice, or achieve independence. Regardless of what they want, it must be important to them. A goal that seems important will automatically make audiences care about it.
The best scripts will often feature characters with conflicting goals, so their paths will cross. This creates natural conflict between the characters.
Establish motivation before conflict
Characters shouldn’t do things just because it serves the plot. Every choice needs a justification that stems from the character’s personality, past, or belief system.
This understanding of motivation will help maintain continuity throughout the script. When audiences know why a character acts a certain way, they are more willing to empathize with them, even if they don’t necessarily agree with their choices.
Before you write a scene, ask yourself what your characters hope to get out of it and what they’re afraid of losing. Knowing these things will help your characters speak, act, and react in a believable manner.
Flaws make characters relatable
Flawless characters tend to be boring since they lack the opportunity to evolve. A memorable hero possesses strengths and weaknesses.
For example, an ambitious entrepreneur might struggle with trusting other people. An accomplished musician might be afraid of performing in front of crowds. A brave detective might find themselves emotionally compromised when dealing with family issues.
Such flaws provide opportunities for character development. As characters encounter more and more challenging obstacles, they must adapt and try to overcome their flaws or suffer the consequences.
Transformation is often what makes a character memorable.
Show your characters’ personalities
Since film is such a visual medium, audiences mostly learn about characters by observing what they do, not what they say.
So instead of saying that someone is compassionate, let the character act in a helpful manner without expecting any sort of reward. Instead of telling us that a character is self-assured, have them calmly and confidently handle a dangerous situation.
Other minor details can tell us a lot about a character as well. Their mannerisms, such as the way they walk into a room, respond to bad news, or greet a stranger, can tell us more than pages of exposition.
Consistency between characters and their actions will lend authenticity to the screenplay.
Relationships add depth
Characters don’t exist in a vacuum. Friends, relatives, bosses, enemies, and lovers are all instrumental in bringing out different facets of a character.
Strong relationships open up opportunities for conflict, encouragement, comedy, and personal growth. For example, a fearless boss might be terrified of his strict father. A timid student might show bravery when defending a close friend.
Interactions between characters allow us to see them from a variety of angles. These different facets will make them seem more believable and relatable.
Allow characters to evolve
One of the key elements of a strong screenplay is character development. When the movie ends, the protagonist shouldn’t be exactly the same person he was in the beginning.
Throughout the course of the movie, his experiences, both good and bad, should shape his worldview and behavior. His arc might involve becoming braver, taking on more responsibility, overcoming phobias, or learning to trust others.
Not every character arc is beneficial. Some films deal with characters whose greed, ego, or lust for vengeance ultimately corrupt them. The important thing is that their evolution is believable and fits with the events of the script.
Tweak your characters during revisions
Refining your characters can be one of the biggest improvements you can make when you revise your script. During the editing process, look at each major scene and ask yourself if the actions performed by your characters really reflect their personality and motivations.
Look for any discrepancies, superfluous dialogue, or places where the emotions can be more effectively conveyed visually. Even minor tweaks can go a long way toward strengthening the audience’s connection to the character.
Most working screenwriters will revise their character arcs multiple times before finishing a script. This helps clarify every character decision and relationship.
In conclusion
Creating memorable characters takes thought and planning. Give your characters clear motivations, realistic flaws, meaningful relationships, and significant transformations. These are the ingredients needed to turn your generic protagonists into characters audiences will care about.
Continue refining your screenplays and focus on writing characters who must make tough decisions, face insurmountable challenges, and ultimately experience personal growth. If you succeed in getting the audience to care about your characters, every scene will carry greater weight and your story will become much more impactful.