How do you create memorable and realistic characters for your film script?

1 Know your genre

Different genres have different expectations and conventions for characters. For example, a horror film might require characters who are vulnerable, curious, or flawed, while a comedy might need characters who are quirky, witty, or ironic. Knowing your genre can help you choose the appropriate traits, motivations, and arcs for your characters, as well as avoid clichés or unrealistic behaviors.

2 Create a character profile

A character profile is a document that summarizes the main features and background of your character. It can include details such as name, age, appearance, personality, occupation, hobbies, relationships, goals, conflicts, strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. A character profile can help you flesh out your character and make them more consistent and believable. You can use templates, questionnaires, or brainstorming techniques to create your character profile.

3 Give them a voice

One of the ways to make your characters stand out is to give them a distinctive voice. Voice is the way your character speaks, thinks, and expresses themselves through dialogue and narration. Voice can reveal your character's personality, mood, education, culture, and emotions. To create a unique voice for your character, you can consider factors such as word choice, sentence structure, tone, rhythm, accent, slang, humor, and subtext.

4 Show, don't tell

Another way to make your characters realistic and memorable is to show their traits and actions, rather than tell them. Showing means using visual, auditory, or sensory cues to convey information about your character, rather than relying on exposition or description. Showing can make your character more dynamic, engaging, and relatable, as well as avoid boring or redundant scenes. For example, instead of telling that your character is nervous, you can show them sweating, fidgeting, or stuttering.

5 Give them flaws and challenges

No one is perfect, and neither are your characters. Giving your characters flaws and challenges can make them more human and interesting, as well as create conflict and tension in your story. Flaws are the negative or undesirable aspects of your character's personality, such as arrogance, insecurity, or selfishness. Challenges are the external or internal obstacles that your character faces, such as enemies, fears, or dilemmas. Flaws and challenges can also provide opportunities for your character to grow and change throughout your film.

6 Test them with scenarios

A final tip to create memorable and realistic characters is to test them with scenarios. Scenarios are hypothetical situations that you can use to explore how your character would react, behave, or interact with others. Scenarios can help you discover new aspects of your character, as well as check their consistency and credibility. You can use scenarios that are related to your plot, genre, or theme, or you can use random or creative scenarios that challenge your character in unexpected ways.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?