Writing Film Characters

Filmmaking is a privilege and a pleasure. However, it’s not easy. Screenwriting, and in particular writing film characters, can be very difficult at times. Inspiration for films can come from anything: an image, a piece of music, people on the street, etc.

Other films are a natural source of inspiration. I’ve just watched the film ‘Nine’ again (having not seen it since its release in 2009) and I was intoxicated by the fantastic performances from Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Fergie, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman – and especially the always-amazing Daniel Day-Lewis!

Inspired by Day Lewis’ troubled character Guido Contini, I wrote a list of the following questions to ask myself when writing film characters:

• Who is s/he in this story?
• What is s/he hiding?
• How does s/he perceive her/himself differently to how everyone else perceives her/him?
• What is s/he trying to resolve?
• Who does s/he love?
• Does s/he love her/himself?
• Is s/he a giver or a taker?
• Who does s/he hurt (repeatedly)?
• How does s/he hurt her/himself or detract from her/his own quality of life?
• What stops her/him being the best s/he can be?
• How much disrespect does s/he tolerate?
• Does s/he show disrespect for others?
• Who is the friend who tells her/him the absolute truth?
• What inspires her/him?
• What is the darkness inside her/him?
• What haunts her/him?
• What causes her/him stress?
• How does s/he atone for her/his sins (or mistakes)?
• Is s/he a good liar?
• What does s/he lie about?
• What lies does s/he tell her/himself?
• What qualities does s/he look for in a lover?
• What qualities does s/he look for in a spouse?
• What motivates her/him?
• What is s/he most proud of?
• What does s/he fear?
• What is her/his ultimate dream?
• What is her/his perception of true love?
• What does s/he aspire to?
• What’s unique about her/him?
• What’s quintessential about her/him?

I hope these questions help you to write fascinating, compelling characters in your screenplays.

Great lines are also inspirational and I’d like to leave you with this absolutely superb line from a song in the film, sung by Guido’s betrayed wife Luisa Contini (Marion Cotillard):
“Long ago. Someone else ago.”

What inspires you when writing?