I have a problem when it comes to creating profiles/backgrounds of characters. I get too eager to want to write the story itself that I'll often not write out the character's profile until I have completed some of the script. I feel that when I try to make characters that I stunt myself from getting to the actual story. Is there a standard I can adjust myself to so I can create the character(s) first and not put too much hassle into the script itself right away? Thanks for the help in the meantime.

If you care to, I suggest to do an outline of the story and then concentrate on character profile utilizing the story outline as your foundation. You'll have the story in front of you so you'll have a better idea on how the character develops and its quicker to edit. Personally, I don't use an outline which I should start doing, but its a result of free writing alot.

Gabe  

That seems very much helpful..see I think need some ground to work with in order to trace out characters better. Thanks

what helps me with creating characters is this

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-screenwrite/m-1132968707/

once you know your story...put each of your main characters through checkpoints
8 through 12. it can be time consuming... but if you answer as many of those about your character as you possibly can... you will find you know your characters well enough they will practically write themselves.

That topic is actually helping me out quite a bit, its allowing me to create more options and a better understanding of what it is I am trying to write. For those out there I recommend that checkpoint, its working out really good. Thanks!

As i have learned writing my first screenplay that i am STILL working on, if you don't know your characters inside out and you dont have a plan, you are, well, doomed. Take your protaganist (main character) as an example, and if you haven't developed a suitable in depth back story and his/her/its flaws and demons etc, you will find you are making things up as you go along and that will get you in a real mess my friend. Make character sheets which states everything about your characters so then you know when you are ready to start writing.

Yeah, I agree with what Robert said.  On my first and only full length screenplay the main problem (besides massive formatting errors) was that the characters and plot were not planned out enough to start with.  What we (it was written with a friend) turned out with was a story that just sort of moved along through pointless scenes to fill up time and ended up with a main character that no one cared about in a story that only had 5 keys scenes out of maybe 40 total.

In my second attempt at going for a full length script, I learned from my mistake and planned out my characters a lot more, creating a list of their downfalls and strengths and when each will be exemplified within the story.  This helped a lot more in created a more rounded character (well only partially rounded as the script has stalled on page 25).  I found that writing the ways that the character traits are shown is a good way to compromise for being so eager to start a script by being able to write something plot wise at the same time.

-Pat

When I first started writing, all my characters seemed alike.  A friend told me to use all the Warner Brothers cartoon characters as my characters.  Bugs Bunny was the lovable scoundrel.  Daffy was a self-centered, greedy child.  Elmer Fudd was a manchild who became flustered when he wasn't in control of the situation.

Don't use the characters literally.  Instead, analyze the characters' personalities come up with your own characters based on them.

This may sound silly, but these characters (and most of the other characters) are pretty opposite of each other.

Try it.


Phil

Well so far its working pretty well...I knew developing character style was definitely mandatory before writing a script but I just needed to know how to do it. Thanks for all your help

I completely recommend knowing your characters BEFORE you write your story. Have the basic plot laid out, but unless your characters are done, you'll end up with a bunch of lookalikes. Who your characters are will affect how they speak and interact with others, and might even serve to give your story some direction it never had before. After all, you might hit a plot point and realize yr character would never do what you're asking him to. So you take a new direction and find something better and mre believable. Always know your characters before you write, and they will help write your story with you. Never make them do what they don't want to. Treat them like people and we will believe they are people.

i just ask "Why" a lot. the character of MIKE is skittsh and paranoid...why is he that way? maybe he dad kick the shit out of him as a kid.

John and Julie don't get along in this story.... why dont they get along? maybe john slept with her sister

Steve chews gum obsessively all the time... why? Maybe he has a compulsive personality

simple questions like that can give you nuggets for backstory... which you can at somepoint integrate... or at least imply this info into your story to give them depth and life.  may even make for an interesting sub plot

When, I think, of making characters, I go back to A-Team.  Here is a low budget tv show.  But the characters are all unique, they all sound different, and the characters make the show work.  If I am writing characters that do not sound different, then that's a problem.

Why not base your characters after real people in your life?

If you need a big bully.....think of some kid from high school or somebody you know.

This way, you already know the character.  You know how they walk, talk and think.

The problem with this, Jon, is that cliques of people generally talk and act alike.  This makes it difficult to write them as individuals and explains why it's hard to tell them apart.

At the same time, it's not believable to write about a jock, a geek and a goth who hang out together.


Phil

Basing characters form real people does work but I like to try something new in forming characters, especially utilizing that checkpoint guide. It really does give me options as well as make me see things and know things about a character that I didn't know, it's almost as if the person writes themself