Is the exact age in bracket neccasery after the introduction of a character?

But it is very useful, especially when using kids as characters.


Phil

Depends on how essential the exact age is to the characters. We need to know a basic age range, such as 20's, middle-aged, or elderly, but there's not a need to write 27, 44, or 76, unless the specific age is important for that character's development or interactions. The younger the character, the more important an exact age is due to major differences in development for youngsters (the difference between age 9 and age 10 might not seem like much, but that's the difference between 4th and 5th grade). The older the characters, the less meaning precise age has. For instance, the difference between our 9 & 10 year old is far more significant than the difference between a 25 & 30 year old.

Really, the only age that is significant after 18 is 21 (and possibly 65). Beyond that, you can be fairly general, since a casting director is going to go for look over age anyway.

Quoted from George Willson Really, the only age that is significant after 18 is 21 (and possibly 65). Beyond that, you can be fairly general, since a casting director is going to go for look over age anyway.

I think that's a little vague, George.  When I give the age of an adult, I usually round it off to a five year range.  There's a big difference between a 25 and a 50 year old.  Unless there will be character rewrites, the general age plays a significant role.


Phil

Unless it's significant I usually go by decade (60's, 70's, etc.). I do find that before thirty I tend to be more specific.

Quoted from dogglebe I think that's a little vague, George.  When I give the age of an adult, I usually round it off to a five year range.  There's a big difference between a 25 and a 50 year old.  Unless there will be character rewrites, the general age plays a significant role.

And I believe that's what I said at the beginning of my post. The question concerns the exact age of an individual and in most cases for adults, the exact age is not necessary. As long as the basic age range is covered

Quoted from tubkas such as 20's, middle-aged, or elderly [then] there's not a need to write 27, 44, or 76, unless the specific age is important for that character's development or interactions.

So unless it's very, very important that the person is exactly 27 years old, late 20's will certainly suffice as the difference between a 25 year old and a 29 year old is very insignificant...in my experience as a 32 year old. And yes, there is obviously a significant difference between a 25 and a 50 year old....