Some characters are driven by their strength, some by their weakness. Even though more complex characters will have a mixture of both, they are still predominately driven by one or the other, and it is this that stamps them as a person.
I also think that "true character' is revealed by the decisions that a person/character makes when they are under pressure.

Thanks for all the advice, guys. I think I've become much more fluent in character development since I started this thread. I've really been pushing myself to learn more about it and I think it's paid off.

How do you develop a character?

Through their words and actions.

What.  You were expecting more?

There have been books written on this subject, but hey -- that's the gist of it.

Look through some of the existing threads on this board.  A lot of good information is already out there for you if you are willing to look.

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

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-screenwrite/m-1128976925/s-0/

I sure wish people would look before they start a new thread. The search board button at the bottom of the page in each thread can be very helpful if you use it.

If more people used it people may be able to get help without asking.

I messed with this yesterday, and like any other amusing internet game, you make of it what you want to. But after I looked at all the results, I got to thinking that this would be an interesting way to create a character. Pick two or three artists that you have at least a couple albums for that fit your idea for a character. Plug the songs into your mixer as indicated below, and fill in the blanks. This would be one way to make some well rounded characters since you would use the song only for development, not for the movie, but each song could inspire that piece of this person's life (whether they reach that point of their life or not). Here's the forward:

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...

I just used my MP3 player which had Billy Joel and Hillsong in it. If I created this character, here's how he would work out on paper. I give the song and an explanation of how it would affect my character.

1. Opening Credits:
Billy Joel - The Night Is Still Young -- He's a night owl, so for him it is never time for bed: the night is always young.

2. Waking Up:
Billy Joel - Miami 2017: Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway -- Hard to say. This song is about remembering the past, so it's possible he dreams of times gone by, and when he wakes up he realizes he's in the present and not what he left behind.

3. First Day At School:
Billy Joel - Half A Mile Away -- In school, he was a rebel. "Talk about women and lie, lie, lie." But beneath the rough exterior, he dreamed of something more.

4. Falling In Love:
Billy Joel - She’s Always a Woman -- I dated someone like this once. It's a woman who can play your heart strings like a guitar. This was his first love probably, and she forever impacted his life.

5. Fight Song:
Hillsong - One Way -- This one is a worship song. Since it is a fight song, this means he has deep religious roots and holds to a moral standard when faced with a conflict.

6. Breaking Up:
Billy Joel - Storm Front -- Holy cow, you don't want to be anywhere near this guy when a break up happened. It must be explosive. This song is compares a relationship to sailing in a hurricane.

7. Prom:
Billy Joel - No Man’s Land -- Probably didn't go to prom since the subject matter of this song compares corporate America to a wasteland of worthlessness.

8. Life:
Billy Joel – Souvenir -- Very melancholic and reflective about his life. It relates closely to "Waking up" except this song is more far reaching and he saves those memories like souvenirs.

9. Mental Breakdown:
Billy Joel – And So It Goes -- Sounds to me like Mental Breakdowns, per se, don't really happen. He's too easy going. If something happens, he's like, "Oh well" and moves on.

10. Driving:
Billy Joel – This Is The Time -- He loves to drive. He wants it to go on and on forever. He's not one to get in the car and zip to his destination. He relishes every mile.

11. Flashback:
Billy Joel – If I Only Had The Words To Tell You -- He regrets not telling someone in his past his true feelings for them. Could be that love, or could be someone else.

12. Getting back together:
Billy Joel - Temptation -- Doesn't want to get back together, but still finds her very attractive and, well, a temptation. Easy conflict right there.

13. Losing your virginity:
Hillsong – Where The Love Lasts Forever -- Given that htis is a worship song, I'd say it was a religious experience. Definitely not animal love-making here, but one where both parties were mutually respected and likely for all the right reasons. It is doubtful this was a one night stand.

14. Wedding:
Hillsong – Came To My Rescue -- So he feels redeemed by a marriage. But redeemed from what, I wonder? It relates closely to 13, where there is definitely something going on for all the right reasons, but at the same time, it also feels like the girl rescues him from something. Could it be the girl he fell in love with who is also the temptation?

15. Birth of Child:
Billy Joel – Summer, Highland Falls -- This is a smooth, flowing song that is a reflection on one's life. He sees the child as a reflection of himself, and as a result, hopes to do the right thing. It's another positive song indicating a life change he feels positive about.

16. Final Battle:
Hillsong – What The World Will Never Take -- This one echoes the sentiments of the Fight Song of 5. With another worship song declaring Jesus as Lord in his life, it solidifies the strong moral foundation in his life.

17. Funeral Song:
Billy Joel - Shameless -- Given the nature of this song, this tells me that he lived a full and happy life doing whatever he could for those he loved.

18. End Credits:
Hillsong – My Best Friend -- And we close with a third worship song proclaiming that Jesus is his best friend.

So we find a guy who has a past girl who did ot work out so well, a rebellious childhood, a life where he longed for the past he left behind, a solid religiously moral foundation, and whofinds a future that he embraces and lives to the fullest. This is, of course, my opinion on all of this, but this is also my character and you can make your own. I think I'll select a couple different artists and devise a companion for him.

Haha, saw this on myspace a while back. I tried it. It's fun.

Yes, from a personal perspective, it is fun, but I also don't want the point to be missed in that you could also use this specific randomness to create some unique characters you might not otherwise have conceived of.

That's a pretty cool idea George.

I've done this before. Here's mine:

Opening Credits:
Un-sweet Sixteen - Wakefield

Waking Up:
Look Where We Are - Hoobastank

First Day Of School:
The Fatal Wound - Switchfoot

Falling In Love:
The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash (LOL!)

Fight Song:
One More Time - Daft Punk (Haha)


Breaking Up:
Ex-Girlfriend - No Doubt (Coincidence? And yes, I like No Doubt)

Prom:
Nobody's LIstening - Linkin Park

Life:
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys

Mental Breakdown:
The Beautiful Letdown - Switchfoot

Driving:
Mad World - Michael Andrews

Flashback:
The Living Dead - Phantom Planet

Getting Back Together:
Bomb - Switchfoot

Wedding:
Title And Registration - Death Cab For Cutie

Birth Of Child:
Don't Stay - Linkin Park

Final Battle:
Out of Control - Hoobastank

Death Scene
Teachers - Daft Punk (just listen to this song and you would agree with me that it would be awkward if it were played during any death scene)

Funeral Song:
Time - The Greencards

End Credits:
Contigo - Frederico Aubele


I'D see this movie

Sean

I'll take a crack at it. Doubt anybody's heard of some of 'em though.

Opening Credits:
Only One - Slipknot -- It's him vs the world. A real "this town ain't big enough for the both of us" mentality. Probably a rebel.

Waking up:
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies - Faith No More -- He'd like to be a better guy, but feels he has to be the macho rebel guy, even though knowing that his future will probably be in turmoil because of it.

First Day of School:
Another Know It All - Chevelle -- Probably left and didn't finish school.

Falling In Love:
Beginning of the End - Systematic -- Doesn't know how to sustain a relationship. Probably treats his significant other badly and expects them to come back for more.

Fight Song:
Come Out and Play (Keep 'em Separated) - The Offspring - HA! -- You don't wanna be in a fight with this guy. A real brawler. Don't say anything bad to him on the street.

Breaking Up:
Hand In My Pocket - Alanis Morisette -- hmmm? maybe he just shrugs off any relationship, and acts like it doesn't bother him. He hates to feel saddened.

Prom:
Do You Call My Name - Ra -- Prom was spent in a jail cell for this guy, and he regrets it.

Life:
Still Running - Chevelle -- Does whatever other people want to hold his reputation, running from who he really is.

Mental Breakdown:
Prayer - Disturbed -- Feels that he has been dealt a cruddy hand in life, and has trouble finding solace in faith when things are tough.

Driving:
In The End - Linkin Park -- Driving is the only time he has to reflect on himself.

Flashback:
Bounce - System of a Down -- No fucking clue what this could mean. Maybe, he remembers a wild woman he had sex with once.

Getting Back Together:
Ain't My B*tch - Metallica -- Doesn't want any commitment or to be tied down.

Wedding:
Dummy Block - Element Eighty -- insecure that anyone could love him enough, so he'd never be caught dead walking down the aisle.

Birth of a Child:
All or Nothing - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -- runs out on his kid.

Final Battle:
Old Man - Stereomud -- Runs his whole life, and never really grows up. The battle is with himself and not being young anymore.

Death Scene:
Up and Gone - Hoobastank -- Just fades away like a flickering candle, with no one who cares about him, with many regrets in his life.

Funeral Song:
Wake Up - Damageplan (that'd be interesting at a funeral. lol) -- Dies Longing for another chance to live his life.

End Credits:
When I'm Gone - 3 Doors Down -- Wants to be forgiven for his mistakes in death.

This looks fun:

Opening Credits:
The New Pollution - Beck. A good upbeat song to let the credits go by as the camera pans across the room. Could also stand for a new generation kinda thing, youngsters with their fads.

Waking up:
(Baby I've Got You) On My Mind - Powderfinger. Aw, only if i got this for "Falling In Love". He wakes up from a dream of his love.

First Day of School:
The Way - Fastball. This song is about parents up and leaving. But I spose could represent spontaneity. He acts spontaneous, profits from it. "But where were they going, without ever knowing the way..."

Falling In Love:
Everything is in it's Right Place - Radiohead. When their together everything is in it's right place.

Fight Song:
See You - Foo Fighters. I'm not quite sure this would be much of a fight since the song states, "good it is to see you". Maybe a play fight.

Breaking Up:
Brick - Ben Folds. Yes! I'm suprised i haven't seen this being used as a breaking up song. It'd work perfecting. "She's so broken up, drownin slowly..."

Prom:
Pineapple Head - Crowded House. Not sure what to interpret here.

Life:
White Room - Cream. Again i'm at a loss.

Mental Breakdown:
Dimension - Wolfmother. A violent psychadelic breakdown where all kind of crazy sh*t happens. "Then I let go of everything, Into another dimension".

Driving:
Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches. Wow, the mental breakdown may still be occuring.

Flashback:
In My Life - The Beatles. This was a good coincidence. Great choice for maybe a montage of past events. "There are places I remember, All my life..."

Getting Back Together:
Polyester Girl - Regurgitator. Perfect, kinda. This song seems to me that its about wanting back your polyester girl. "It took them several weeks to get you back to me..."

Wedding:
Lola - The Kinks. LOL, There's gonna be a big suprise at the wedding. Two grooms.

Birth of a Child:
Castles Made of Sand - Jimi Hendrix. Just don't know. GOOD BACKWARDS GUITAR SOLO THOUGH!

Final Battle:
2000 Light Years From Home - Rolling Stones. Must be a battle in space.

Death Scene:
Sittin' On the Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding. This would seem to me as the death is accepted, knowing they'll soon be in paradise. "I have nothing to live for, looks like nothings gonna come my way, so i'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay..."

Funeral Song:
Strange Ones - Supergrass. Hahahaha, "Everyone knows where the strange ones go..."

End Credits:
Kelly Watch The Stars - Air. A nice calming song to end with.

While this might make the soundtrack to a complete movie, consider it as a soundtrack to a single character from a movie or anything else. You may not use all of this information for a film's character, but it serves to make for someone very complete if you can explain little details like this. Consider the most under-developed characters in movie-land: horror movie victims. What if each and every victim had at least this much development to them. You knew how that person was in school, how they feel about life, and how they would feel about marriage (even though they would not live that long).

Take your lists here and define what each song might mean. You don't have to use your own life; in fact, it's better if you let your imagination run a little wild. I defined each of my songs from an outside perspective, without relation to my life (although some of them are remakably close, I was more of a nerd than a rebel in school).

Point is, I don't want this thread to descend into everyone just doing a huge randomize of their players. Use the information you gained to create a unique character and then use it in a script.

EDIT: Well done, Alex. In the ones you're not sure how to interpret, just use your imagination. Maybe it's someonthing the song would never fit in reality, but we're also dealing with psychology, so the song means something, and maybe that's just a feeling as opposed to the literal meaning. I also noticed Zombie Sean added a category in the form of a death scene. Not bad toi have. You've preplanned their death.

when you can't think up something for the song as a whole, maybe there is a lyric or two that stands out and you can use to answer that question

Quoted from George Willson I allso noticed Zombie Sean added a category in the form of a death scene. Not bad toi have. You've preplanned their death.

Haha I didn't read that. I guess it's all planned out.

Sean