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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  Naming Characters
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 7:01pm Report to Moderator
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I searched, I didn't find an answer, so I'll ask here

How do you determine which characters get names and which ones are just generic 'Man' or '[City] Boy' or whatever? I thought I had it worked out, but my WIP has a lot of random characters that may or may not need a name - I just don't know.

There's a lot of gray area with these characters and I could see the arguments either way (especially when the characters' names aren't actually spoken). Still, it is really frustrating having things like 'Woman', 'Woman 2' etc. (And probably very, very lazy on my part...)

Help?

Thanks
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mcornetto
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 7:05pm Report to Moderator
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If they are important enough to speak then give them meaningful names.  You can still do that and give them generic names - instead of WOMAN use HOUSEWIFE or something like that.  You can even qualify WOMAN by using something like BLONDE WOMAN.  

The trick is to differentiate your characters so the reader can keep track.   In the case of nominal characters it is sometimes better to not give them actual names.
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 7:10pm Report to Moderator
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Ah, okay, gotcha.

So...define nominal...

What about for, say, a street thug who's got plenty of dialogue in the script for a couple of scenes and that's it, or a little old lady who helps my MC out for a sequence and then dies?

I'm trying to combine characters wherever possible, but in some situations, it's just...not.

Thanks
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Ledbetter
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 7:52pm Report to Moderator
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Why not name them all. I completed a script a bit ago and it had 6 or so bums in it.

It was recommended to me by scripters here to name them. I had them as Bum#1, Bum#2, ect...

When I did, they actually were given more life and I began to plug them into the story more as well.

It almost seems when you put a name to them, you want them to have more life then as if you give them generic positions.

Just my take.

Shawn.....><
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 7:58pm Report to Moderator
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Ah, okay. That might actually help with the dialogue trouble I'm having atm with one of them, I suppose.

But do you think it could get frustrating or confusing for a reader to have all these names hanging out there? As it is, all the names are middle-Eastern, so not the easiest to remember.
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Ledbetter
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 8:09pm Report to Moderator
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Well...

When you say something like-

What about for, say, a street thug who's got plenty of dialogue in the script for a couple of scenes and that's it, or a little old lady who helps my MC out for a sequence and then dies?

That’s not like a doorman holding open a car door. The thug who has plenty of dialogs deserves a name.

The old woman dying most serve some role in the script otherwise she is there for no real reason. If that’s the case, then why is she there?

The way I see it, if we are talking about a one bit line then no, why invest in a character building-

BUT if there is any significance to the player in your tale, then why wouldn’t you flesh them out?

Shawn.....><
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 8:39pm Report to Moderator
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I ask how important are they to the story? Are you going to see them alot? If they are, give them a name. If not, don't.

Hope this helps
Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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Baltis.
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 9:06pm Report to Moderator
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Treat characters in your script like you would people in your day to day life.

If you go to a bar and have a drink you're probably not gonna pick up too many names.  Lots of faces, but no names.

If you go back to that bar on a weekly basis  you might start to notice more and more regulars.  The fixtures of the place.  You might even introduce yourself.

What this means is this - You only note the memorable ones.
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 9:56pm Report to Moderator
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Thanks guys, those are some good way of looking at it. With the two examples I've given, I think I'll give the woman a name and the thug a name just for the writing, then just something generic but doable

Cheers!!
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Ledbetter
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 9:58pm Report to Moderator
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By the way, been to Victoria...

Loved it!

Shawn.....><
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 10:00pm Report to Moderator
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Funny you should say that - I've just taken a drive out to the country on a beautiful day and am marveling at how gorgeous it is
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Ledbetter
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 10:07pm Report to Moderator
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Is the red and white lighthouse still there on the coast?

Victoria was my favorite place in all of Australia.

I wasn't much for the larger towns.

Shawn.....><
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rdhay
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 10:43pm Report to Moderator
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Hmm, lots of coast in Vic I've never seen the lighthouse but that doesn't mean much;)
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stevie
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 10:51pm Report to Moderator
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I was born and grew up in Kyabram, near Shepparton.

Left there when I was 18.

My folks and brother still live there, sis lives in Melbourne.



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Ledbetter
Posted: October 28th, 2011, 11:13pm Report to Moderator
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Stevie-

What up brother?

You two are neighbors.

Man I miss Australia. One of the best countries I've ever been to.

Shawn.....><
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