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Fiona Ashe

Film Director & Screenwriter

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All Blogs · November 17, 2012

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?

Filed Under: All Blogs Tagged With: @FionaAshe, Chicago, Daniel Day Lewis, director, drama, Fergie, film, film director ireland, Filmflashe, Fiona Ashe, FlasheForward, inspiration, Ireland, Irish, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, movie, musical, Nicole Kidman, Nine, Penelope Cruz, Rob Marshall, screenwriting, script, scriptwriting

Fiona Ashe

Fiona Ashe is an award-winning Film Director & Screenwriter.

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