Hi All! I'm working on a script where the audience knows the real name of a character, but the other characters do not. For the character's dialogue is it clearer to list them by their actual name or their pretend name?
Example. Character's name is Louis, but he's pretending to be George. (Note they spent the majority of the script as their made up name)
LOUIS
My name is George and I'm here to party.
or once they announce themselves as George.
GEORGE
My name is George and I'm here to party.
I'm leaning towards the first choice where they will be listed as their actual name, but just wanted to know if anyone had an idea of of best practices.
Thanks,
Eric
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I think it'll be clearer to use the actual name, Eric McKeever. And the reader will get reminded that Louis is pretending to be George whenever a character says "George".
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If there is a reason to keep the name a secret to the other characters or has a significance to the story, let it be known why that is. If not, then let the other characters say his/her name.
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Thanks!
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You're welcome, Eric McKeever.
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Sharing the real name with the audience is much easier, Eric McKeever. Think of all the spy stories with undercover agents: we know the real names while the other characters have no clue about it. Unless you want to shock your audience and let them know the real identity of the main character during the story, but this doesn't seem to be your case (correct me if I'm wrong!).
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Since I have spent a few hundred hours standing next to the camera, directing actors, here is my point of view. Actors want their character to have a name. That is an important reason why characters in scripts often have a name. So use the character's real name, not the name he pretends to have.