Scriptip - Contrasting Characters

SCRIPTIP NO. 6

Posted 03/13/2001

S C R I P T I P S
By: Alan A. Armer

Subject: Contrasting Characters

Dave plays guitar and writes music. His ambition is to become a rock star. His parents both like the idea. Here's how a scene between them might go.

DAD
I think it's great that Dave will
become a rock musician.

MOM
I do, too.

DAD
I hear rock stars make tons of
money. Our son's going to become
rich, Mildred. I'm really excited.

MOM
I'm excited too, George.

How's that for crackling dialog? Is this a scene that grabs your attention or what?

Okay, okay, the dialog is pitiful. Why? Because both characters have identical attitudes, of course. It doesn't take a genius to realize that when characters agree, their scene becomes lifeless. Let them disagree and it catches fire. Suppose Mom wants Dave to become a rock star and Dad says "Hell no. He's going in the family business and that's final!" You see the difference, of course.

It's so easy. When plotting your story, look for characters with different sets of ideas, from different economic backgrounds, different cultures, different races, religions or philosophies. Now, without your having to search for ways to introduce conflict between characters, it will emerge naturally, gracefully, automatically.

If Mom and Dad both have identical (or similar) viewpoints, they are, essentially, the same character, aren't they? Because unnecessary characters clutter a screenplay, let's get rid of one of them. Let's suppose that Mom died last year in an automobile crash. We're sad about it - but our screenplay will be stronger because of it.

Although this Scriptip primarily encourages you to build contrast between characters, it also carries a second, equally important message: Eliminate all but the most essential characters. By so doing, the ones remaining will have greater impact. Removing clutter always improves a screenplay - and that clutter includes unnecessary dialog, unnecessary characters and entire unnecessary scenes.

Advice of the Day

In successful dramatic writing, the scissors is as necessary as a pen.

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