Developing character voice

 
2.11 An exercise for developing character voice
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Let’s try this with a character of your own: explore your character’s eating patterns, and then stress them. Rob them, arrest them, or make sure that their credit card is refused. Whatever it is, make sure that the character will have to struggle to extricate themselves from the situation. The character’s dialogue and action will combine to create the basic elements of voice.
Share your reflections on the exercise in the comments.
© University of East Anglia


Staring at a social media post about a female trophy hunter gloating over killing and eating an endangered giraffe. 
 
“I hate her and her cronies. She is the lowest of the low. There is no challenge in killing an awkward giraffe. Why did she eat it? Look at her, she has never missed a meal in her life. Rich sicko bitch should be sent out to be hunted by poachers.”

Throws crumpled paper at the screen. Twirls a fork slowly in a bowl of spaghetti bolognaise laden with grated cheese. Pushes the bowl away. 
 
“Who am I to talk? I’m a hypocrite. I condone brutality every day by my willingness to ignore the realities.”

Stands and turns away from the screen.

“I am as bad as she is. I’ve been pregnant, I’ve given birth. I held my babies against my breast. How would I feel if they were torn from me and slaughtered so someone else could use my milk? All those cows with dead calves just so I can have my cheese.”

Turns back to screen. Waves both hands like swatting at flies. 
 
“Eat your giraffe, bitch and gloat all you like, at least you are up front and honest about it. Not like me. I’m going to go back to pretending I don’t know what I know. I love cows I just don’t love them enough to stop drinking milk and I love cheese too much to give it up.”

Picks up fork and shoves overlarge serving into mouth. Tears on cheeks.

“I’m sorry cows.”

Introduction to screenwriting develop character outlines

2.6 An exercise to develop character outlines
When we start the process of character development it helps to create character outlines. Drawing on Michael’s article and the panel discussion, create an outline for a character from a film that you’ve recently seen or use it as an opportunity to develop a character of your own.

• List the character’s major actions. Start from the end and work backwards. (Don’t analyse how or why; just create a list of actions.) Saves a planet, meets his sister, graduates, develops leadership skills, joins military, lands on a planet in a stolen flyer/joyride-takes souvenirs, acting out grief from loss of father
  
• Analyse the list to reveal the character’s wants and needs. Is the character aware of what they want?
  Wants to find his father, wants to prove himself to his absent father, gain his mother’s respect/admiration, regain connection with his siblings.
  
• Describe how the character thinks and look at his or her basic psychology. Intelligent? Intellectually engaged? Cognitive Biases? Impulsive? Cautious? : Physically fit, slender, brown curly hair, dark eyes. Intelligent, impulsive, thoughtless of others -changes to empathy, strong connection to father – changes to respect for mother and uncle, develops leadership and protectiveness of ‘his’ people, friendly.
  
• Describe the character’s superficial affect. How might a casual acquaintance describe them?: Fun but conservative. Party boy with a conscience. Smart without being a showoff.
  
• List any important physical characteristics.
  

This is just an outline, so stick to that format and make lists; avoid long prose descriptions.

Share your outline on your blog, link to it in our comments area so other learners can view and comment on it.

Do also review and comment on other people’s outlines and thoughts on the experience.

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