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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  Character Introduction Question Moderators: George Willson
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  Author    Character Introduction Question  (currently 2168 views)
dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 7:45pm Report to Moderator
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OK, I know all characters, at leats your important characters, should be named. That is not the issue I am having. What I am trying to figure out is, if one of my main characters appears only as a dark, hooded figure in majority of the movie and revealed only at the end, how is this handled? Should the character still be named and their cues formatted with thair character name? Or is it OK to cue them in as DARK SHADOWY FIGURE and reveal their name later on?

For instance, Ann only appears in the shadows, wearing dark clothing and masks. She robs a few stores and whatnot. However, no one knows it is Ann doing these things. Only at the end of the story is the person revealed to be Ann. The whole reveal is meant to be suspenceful to the audience. In fact, Ann doesn't have any speaking parts as Ann, only as the shadowy figure.

Any suggestions?
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Gage
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 8:03pm Report to Moderator
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If the character Ann is already in the film before this big reveal, it shouldn't be too hard.

"The shadowy figure peels back its hood.
IT'S ANN."


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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 8:46pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Gage
If the character Ann is already in the film before this big reveal, it shouldn't be too hard.

"The shadowy figure peels back its hood.
IT'S ANN."


Yea, I figured at the reveal one would or could write what you posted. I'm talking befofre the reveal. The shadow figure is only revealed to be Ann at the end. But during the rest of the movie, no one knows it is Ann. So should the character cues read ANN or SHADOWY DARK FIGURE?

Maybe I am not explaining it right.
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Gage
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 9:08pm Report to Moderator
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It would read as Shadowy Figure, or Shadow.

For example:
"The Shadow runs through the night."

Then, later, at the big reveal...
"The Shadow pulls back its hood, to reveal Ann's face nestled in the darkness."


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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 9:20pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Gage
It would read as Shadowy Figure, or Shadow.

For example:
"The Shadow runs through the night."

Then, later, at the big reveal...
"The Shadow pulls back its hood, to reveal Ann's face nestled in the darkness."


And as far as the character cue? Should I format it like this?

        SHADOWY FIGURE
And now your time has come?

OR

           ANN
And now your time has come?

Obviously this is before the reveal.
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Dreamscale
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 9:47pm Report to Moderator
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Hey dxer, if "Ann" is never properly intro'd, how does anyone know it's "Ann"  Or, more to the point, how does the audience even know who the fuck Ann is?  Know what I'm saying?

On a general note, IMO, the only time you don't properly intro a character (as you're saying) is when you're purposely trying to conceal that character's identity - it happens often in horror/slasher flicks, where the killer's identity is always concealed.

So, I'd have to imagine that this "Ann" has some presence in the script, otherwise, revealing this "Shadow" is Ann doesn't mean jack shit, right?

Hope this helps and makes some semblance of sense.
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Baltis.
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:06pm Report to Moderator
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Might just be me here, but you got bigger things to worry about right now if that is an actual dialogue snipet from the script.   And it should be SHADOWY FIGURE not ANN... Why?  Because ANN has yet to be introduced as the SHADOWY FIGURE.  The SHADOWY FIGURE must be treated as another character until the duality of ANN comes into play... Hope this helps.  

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Baltis.  -  September 4th, 2012, 10:20pm
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leitskev
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:20pm Report to Moderator
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You can have DARK HOODED FIGURE, or something similar. Maybe Anne has been talked about in the dialogue of other characters, so we know of Anne, though we have not met her.

And then when you reveal, you can intro her as ANNE.

The main thing is just make sure it's clear to the reader; and you want the reader to experience the script like an audience would the film, which is why you don't want to use her name until the reveal.

It's the story you're selling, not so much the script, if you know what I mean. So don't obsess the "rules".
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mcornetto
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:21pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from dxer07002


        SHADOWY FIGURE
And now your time has come?

OR

           ANN
And now your time has come?




You can do either of these two -- like so.


        SHADOWY FIGURE
And now your time has come?

The Shadowy Figure steps forward into the light.  It's ANN (her description goes here).

                 ANN
I'm going to say my first line after my reveal.


OR


ANN (her intro) stands in the shadows, her face a dark blur.  

           ANN
And now your time has come?


To me the second way is preferable - especially in a short - because if anyone is ever going to shoot the script it is important that they always know exactly who is speaking.  In other words, Shadowy Figure is almost certainly going to be replaced in the shooting script.  
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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:21pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale
Hey dxer, if "Ann" is never properly intro'd, how does anyone know it's "Ann"  Or, more to the point, how does the audience even know who the fuck Ann is?  Know what I'm saying?

On a general note, IMO, the only time you don't properly intro a character (as you're saying) is when you're purposely trying to conceal that character's identity - it happens often in horror/slasher flicks, where the killer's identity is always concealed.

So, I'd have to imagine that this "Ann" has some presence in the script, otherwise, revealing this "Shadow" is Ann doesn't mean jack shit, right?

Hope this helps and makes some semblance of sense.


Kind of. See, I am purposely trying to conceal Ann's identity until the reveal at the end. Providing that is the direction I decide to go. I am just outlining ideas at the moment.
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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:23pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Baltis.
Might just be me here, but you got bigger things to worry about right now if that is an actual dialogue snipet from the script.   And it should be SHADOWY FIGURE not ANN... Why?  Because ANN has yet to be introduced as the SHADOWY FIGURE.  The SHADOWY FIGURE must be treated as another character until the duality of ANN comes into play... Hope this helps.  


Well that was an example, NOT actual dialogue. I'm not close to dialogue yet.

And yes, that does help and what I figured but wasn't sure. I wanted to come here and ask.
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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:25pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from leitskev
You can have DARK HOODED FIGURE, or something similar. Maybe Anne has been talked about in the dialogue of other characters, so we know of Anne, though we have not met her.

And then when you reveal, you can intro her as ANNE.

The main thing is just make sure it's clear to the reader; and you want the reader to experience the script like an audience would the film, which is why you don't want to use her name until the reveal.

It's the story you're selling, not so much the script, if you know what I mean. So don't obsess the "rules".


Thank you! I'm still debating if Ann will have dialogue as Ann through the story as well as have dialogue as the Shadowy Figure. But, I don't want to confuse myself as I write. And I for sure don't want to confuse the reader, if anyone ever does read the finished product.
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dxer07002
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:26pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from mcornetto



You can do either of these two -- like so.


        SHADOWY FIGURE
And now your time has come?

The Shadowy Figure steps forward into the light.  It's ANN (her description goes here).

                 ANN
I'm going to say my first line after my reveal.


OR


ANN (her intro) stands in the shadows, her face a dark blur.  

           ANN
And now your time has come?


To me the second way is preferable - especially in a short - because if anyone is ever going to shoot the script it is important that they always know exactly who is speaking.  In other words, Shadowy Figure is almost certainly going to be replaced in the shooting script.  


I like the second way, especially if it is for the reveal. Thank you!
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Dreamscale
Posted: September 4th, 2012, 10:46pm Report to Moderator
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OK, so you haven't written anything, nor have you really conceived exactly what's going to happen, correct?

So, I have to assume that Ann is indeed a main character, and her alter ego, as Shadowy Figure, is the Antag?  If that's indeed the case, then, yeah, don't reveal who this shadowy g=figure is until you're ready for the shocking reveal.

Hopefully, we'll forget this when you post your script, otherwise, it won't be a very shocking reveal.    

best of luck - make sure you have some big character arcs, a deep story, and some themes floating around...right Kevin?  
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rc1107
Posted: September 5th, 2012, 12:35am Report to Moderator
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Ahh, I remember my 'Dark-Hooded-Shadowy-Figure-Script'.  It's kind of like what Stephen King said about hitch-hiker stories:  "Every writer should have at least one."


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