Ten Questions to create more compelling, castable characters - Summary sheet

10 QUESTIONS TO CREATING MORE COMPLEX, CASTABLE CHARACTERS

With DANNY MANUS

1. WHY THEM?
   
   Why is your protagonist the RIGHT/BEST character to experience this story through?
   
   
2. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN CHARACTER’S ARC?
   
   How does their arc reinforce and directly connect to your Structure? How does your character’s arc reinforce and directly connect to your overall theme? Are you giving your characters time on screen to react and show their change/growth?
   
   
3. WHAT MAKES YOUR CHARACTER’S INTRODUCTION – HOW THEY ENTER THE STORY - NEW/COMPELLING?
   
   How are you setting up their place within the world (and their world)? How are you describing them on the page to create a connection?
   
   
4. DOES YOUR PROTAGONIST EXPERIENCE THE 5 STAGES OF GRIEF?
   
   Not always at the same time, but often a few happen between Inciting Incident and End of First Act.
   
   
5. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN CHARACTER (AND ANTAGONIST’S) MAIN GOAL AND MOTIVATION?
   
   The goal is the external, the motivation is the internal driving force for the goal. The Motivation is the WHY.
   
   
6. WHAT ARE 5 THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CHARACTER BEFORE PG 1?
   
   The Backstory, Wound, Damage, Fatal Flaw, etc. How is the Wound/Backstory tied directly into the goal/motivation? How are you using these things to brainstorm your PLOT beats to make them more character-based?
   
   
7. WHAT SECRET IS YOUR CHARACTER KEEPING?
   
   Actors like to play layers. What are they hiding from the audience/other characters?
   
   
8. WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER’S DEALBREAKER?
   
   What’s the thing they would never do that they will HAVE to do in order to achieve their goal? How does that dilemma affect the plot and their arc?
   
   
9. WHAT IS IRONIC ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?
   
   Is there an action/decision/view they have or something that happens to them that is ironic given who they are?
   
   
10. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS ARE SPEAKING THEIR TRUTH?
    
    How to ensure that your dialogue sounds genuine, authentic, distinct, etc. for EVERY character? Do you know enough about your character – what makes them tick? Are you creating natural BANTER/chemistry between your characters?
    
    
11. WHAT IS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER DYNAMIC AUDIENCES WILL CONNECT TO MOST?
    
    Are you defining it clearly and giving that relationship an arc within the story?

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