Filmmaking / Directing : Detailed Character Analysis by Peter D. Marshall

After reading the script, making notes about the story structure and doing your scene-by-scene analysis, the next part of the Director's pre-production homework is figuring out the development and objectives of the characters through detailed Character Analysis.

A character analysis is when you describe a character's personality and reveal details about the character “as a real person.” You want to describe everything about each character: from their physical appearance to their family background. Audiences get to know the characters in our stories through what they say, feel and do.

To find the "heartbeat" of any script, a director needs to understand the "subworld" of the characters by discovering their backstory, scene objectives, internal and external traits, strengths and weaknesses, and their relationships with the other characters. This process involves several steps:

1. Character Backstory: Understanding the history and experiences that shape each character's motivations, fears, and desires. This helps to create a subtle and believable character whose actions are rooted in their past. A well-developed backstory adds depth to the characters, making them more relatable and allowing the audience to empathize with their struggles throughout the story.

2. Character Dynamics: These play a central role in scene analysis, as interactions between characters drive the scene's emotional and dramatic intensity. Dialogues, gestures, and facial expressions are scrutinized for nuances that reveal underlying tensions, conflicts, or alliances. By examining how characters respond to each other and their environment, viewers gain insights into their personalities, motivations, and relationships.

3. External Traits: Examining a character’s physical attributes, mannerisms, and outward behavior. These traits help to visualize the characters and make them distinct and memorable. They also serve as visual cues for the audience, reinforcing the character's personality and emotional state through their appearance and actions.

4. Internal Traits: Exploring a character’s internal qualities, such as their psychological makeup, emotions, and moral compass. These traits reveal why characters behave the way they do and how they respond to various situations. Internal traits often drive the character's growth and evolution, influencing the choices they make throughout the story.

5. Scene Objectives: Identifying what each character wants to achieve in every scene. This drives the character’s actions and decisions, creating purposeful interactions that move the plot forward. Clear objectives also help actors understand the motivation behind their character's behavior, leading to more authentic performances.

6. Strengths and Weaknesses: Analyzing what makes each character strong or vulnerable. This balance adds depth, making characters relatable and complex, and it creates opportunities for growth and conflict within the story. Strengths can lead characters to success, while weaknesses often result in challenges or failures that propel the story.

7. Relationships: Understanding the dynamics between characters, their alliances, rivalries, and emotional connections. These relationships influence the characters' motivations and actions, adding layers to the story. They also serve as a driving force for the plot, as changes in relationships can lead to pivotal moments and emotional turning points.

By exploring these character qualities, directors can ensure each character's journey is compelling and logical. This understanding helps the director guide actors in delivering authentic performances and make informed decisions about the film's visual and narrative style, ultimately bringing the story to life in a way that connects with audiences.

NEXT ARTICLE: Characterizations (Describing Characters in Depth)