Is it possible to write a dramatic screenplay and not give your character a real name? Examples would be The Bride in Kill Bill or Nameless in Hero.

I guess the question is can you do that and keep the audience caring for that character, KB and Hero are films written to be filmed right away unlike where I am and not having that luxery.

Thanks in advance for anything, it's all helpful.

Clint Eastwood did it.  In Pale Rider, he was known only as the Preacher.  In High Plains Drifter he was known only as the Stranger.


Phil

So, if you all but avoid his name than can you get away with it? I think in this instance if I name the character something like Jack or a name it ruins his story but I don't want to alienate audiences because I don't want to name him, you know?

He'll start of with the name boy, than it grows into something else when he becomes a man but in the script reading things like the boy or he just seems to be something that would annoy an audience.

I'd be annoyed if I read a script where the character was referred to as The bride but than when it's on film it's a different story. I guess time will tell.

Should he have give a name, he could always something that everyone will know is not his real name:  Mister Satan, Doctor Doolittle, Number Seven, John Lennon, etc..

The Smoking Man in the X-Files is a good example of this.

Another alternative is to give him a bunch of names.  Each time someone asks your character's, he gives a different response.


Phil

I started using a name which I had from the beginning for him, nobody in the script really is forced to use his name anyway.