[if this is in the wrong place, I apologize]


I am currently writing a screenplay, which I have been doing so for the past 3 years. Of course, this is my second draft and I'm redoing quite alot. Make it a little more interesting, capturing.

But I want to express a bit of a character's past. I dont want to do flashbacks, just normal speaking dialogue.

But what I want to know is, how much is too much? To you guys, anyway?

And when in this situation, what do you guys prefer to do?


[I have a funny feeling im posting this in the wrong place haha   sorry]

I think this is the right section.

As for a character's past - it's important for you, as the writer, to know everything about a character's past as it helps mold the character we see on screen.

Now, as for telling the past - if it's important to the story and character, then it's important to the script. We need to know why characters say the things they say and do the things they do.

But, you can't bog down a screenplay with characters speaking about the past. You will need to craft it in a way that keeps the story pushing forward while giving us insights into the character's past. That way, we know his motivations for acting and reacting during certain sequences.

If you choose flashbacks - be careful not to let the tail wag the dog. That is, flashbacks can be important if used correctly, but used too frequently, then our story is stuck in the past before the present events even occur.

And as always, showing is better than telling.

Hope this helps.
Stew

I agree. Don't tell us everything about their past in the same conversation. Let the reader gradually learn more about them as they read.

I read a script on another site where the character was crying. The male character says something like "Don't be like that" and the female blurts out "It's not my fault my dad died when I was six years old!".  

That's an example of trying to shove information down the reader's throat when they could have simply shown the main character laying flowers at a grave yard.

MacDuff gives excellent advice. And wow! From Vancouver, my hometown!  

In short, you the writer should know as much as possible about your characters because every little thing is important to how they will behave in various situations.

As stated though, you need to incorporate these attributes in a natural way without forcing it into your script. It has to come naturally.

I can remember reading one of Mike Shelton's comic scripts where one of the characters had the obligatory eye patch and it was done in the Shelton style, poking fun I think at writing itself.

Anyways, point is, unless you're doing it to be funny, don't just give your character some kind of prop to make them who they are without any reason. Do they walk with a limp? If they do, what does that limp mean to them? Maybe they were injured during some heroic act and they walk in their limp with pride. So it's a prideful limp, which is quite different than being born with a deformity and they were perhaps made fun of and they walk that limp with a lasting feeling of insecurity. Or is the limp related to some kind of cancer and with each step they take, it reminds them of their death.

So then, you can have a whole load of burdens attached to the idea of a limp, or not. It's just a simple example of what makes your character tick. It's not just giving them glasses or a ball cap or whatever, it's why they have those accessories shall we say and what they mean to them.

Hope this helps,

Sandra

Keep it to a minimum.  If it takes more than one or two lines then, maybe, a flashback is in order.  Don't feel that you have tell us everything.  

You could have a character casually mention he was a decorated marksman twenty years ago in the army and then, later on, have him shot someone between the eyes and say, "I still practice."


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Keep it to a minimum.  If it takes more than one or two lines then, maybe, a flashback is in order.  Don't feel that you have tell us everything.   You could have a character casually mention he was a decorated marksman twenty years ago in the army and then, later on, have him shot someone between the eyes and say, "I still practice." Phil

Yes, and also, people generally will repeat things that mean a lot to them.

For instance, a mother will often talk about her children, but a mother who DOESN'T talk much about her children? Well, that says a lot about the character without saying anything at all.

Sandra

Phil,

I'd be thinking those rules apply more to the inexperienced more than to the professional. My writing is for fun. Not cash. Not yet. Maybe never. Who knows?

What's it Larry Fishburne says to Keanu "Where am I?" Reeves before he kicks his narrow arse? Ah yes...

Quoted from Morpheoso in da May Tricks Rules can be bent.

With rules it's extremely important to know them. And know why they have been made. And what they actually mean.

And yes, Sandra. Excellent point. I'm impressed.

R

thanks for the advice everyone

Quoted from rendevous Phil, I'd be thinking those rules apply more to the inexperienced more than to the professional. My writing is for fun. Not cash. Not yet. Maybe never. Who knows?

Just because you're not looking to go pro, doesn't mean you shouldn't write as a pro.  I'm not going to treat your work with kid gloves because you write as a hobby.


Phil

For a great example on the judicious inclusion of a character's past, check out Lost. Nearly every episode has backstory from one of the myriad of characters on the show, but what we can gain from it is that the backstory helps to accentuate their current actions on the island. Every character has an extensive story of where they came from, and we know that a person's past influences their present. Lost shows us what we need to know about a character in that episode to understand why they're acting the way they are. As an audience, we want to know more, but for that episode, we don't NEED to. The same should apply to your screenplay. You need to help the audience understand a character's motivations for their actions, and a character's motivations come from their past. So with every action your character has to take to achieve your plot's goal, ask yourself why they decided to do this, and that would be some part of their past you should let go at some point. If their backstory isn't something they want to tell, do the flashback and show it only as their personal memory for the audience's eyes only. The key here (and there are no rules) is to only tell what you need to.

That being said, it is a good idea for characters to have traits that are uniquely theirs just to add flavor. In "As Good As It Gets", Jack Nicholson's character didn't need to have this irrational fear of stepping on cracks for any part of the plot, but it made the movie more amusing, and gave his character a little more flavor.

Just saying.

Quoted from Scription [if this is in the wrong place, I apologize] I am currently writing a screenplay, which I have been doing so for the past 3 years. Of course, this is my second draft and I'm redoing quite alot. Make it a little more interesting, capturing. But I want to express a bit of a character's past. I dont want to do flashbacks, just normal speaking dialogue. But what I want to know is, how much is too much? To you guys, anyway? And when in this situation, what do you guys prefer to do? [I have a funny feeling im posting this in the wrong place haha   sorry]

There is a very specific reason why the character's past is revealed. Once done, you move on.