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:)

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.

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:)

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.....><

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.

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.....><

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

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.

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!!

By the way, been to Victoria...

Loved it!

Shawn.....><

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:)

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.....><

Hmm, lots of coast in Vic:) I've never seen the lighthouse but that doesn't mean much;)

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.

Stevie-

What up brother?

You two are neighbors.

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

Shawn.....><

In one of the screen writing books I use it says with the minor characters you don't have to name them, but you can give them a bit of personality with their name. For example, your WOMAN 1 and WOMAN 2 could become ARROGANT WOMAN and NERVOUS WOMAN (or whatever fits of course). This way it builds a slightly better picture of them which helps both the reader, and fingers crossed, the actor/actress who ends up playing them. I guess it's up to each writer to decide which character is important enough to earn a real name.

Also had to add that I too love Australia, travelled down the east coast a few years back and ended up working in a town called Mornington in Victoria for a couple of months. Had a great time and hope to go back at some point as there's too much I didn't get to do.

Arty.

Ah, okay. Good idea:) Thanks - now I've got a few options to work with.

Yep, I love Mornington, although Gippsland is absolutely breathtaking IMO;) Yep, there's so much to do here. I've been here since 2008 and still have only barely scratched the surface!