Depicting CharacterDepicting Characterin Filmin Film

“...You can only involve an audience with people. You can't involve them with gimmicks, with sunsets, with hand-held cameras, zoom shots, or anything else. They couldn't care less about those things. But you give them something to worry about, some person they can worry about, and care about, and you've got them, you've got them involved." 

Frank Capra

Direct Characterization

The author/director comes right out and describes a character’s personality. •“The mother was judgmental.” •“The employee was lazy.”

“Curly was quick and mean.” Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck-

Indirect Characterization• The writer reveals information

about a character and his personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him.

We learn about character from:We learn about character from:

• personality traits• physical appearance and name• actions• choices• speech• thoughts and feelings• past• comments about others• comments made by others

A character’s personality traitsA character’s personality traits

• Traits refer to one’s attitudes or behaviors that reflect personality qualities.– a character may be curious, brave, cold,

loving, aggressive, open-minded, naïve, etc.

• Personality traits are also qualities that make us find people likeable, lovable, etc.

A character’s appearance & nameA character’s appearance & name• Physical appearance is important if it brings

out a person’s unique personality qualities, culture, traditions, or influences.

• A name is often significant as it may reveal information about one’s family background, tradition, influences, or personality traits.

A character’s actions-externalA character’s actions-external• A character’s behavior (actions) is usually motivated by his or her attitudes and values.• By examining potential reasons behind the actions, you can reveal a great deal about

the inner world of a character.

External Action: Actions vs Appearance

•Need to grow naturally out of the character’s personality•Plot and character become interwoven•Often small action rather than big ones, i.e. firefighter example, duty vs values

A character’s actions-internalA character’s actions-internal

Usually unseen and unheard•Secrets, fantasies, daydreams, memories, fears, insecurities•Taking us visually or aurally into the character’s mind•Sensitive, expressive face shots-reaction shots•Sometimes a musical score

A character’s choicesA character’s choices• The choices people make regarding how

they deal with obstacles, resolve conflicts, or overcome difficulties reveal character strengths or weaknesses.

• We make judgments about people based on the choices they make every day.

A character’s speechA character’s speech• Based on what he/she says and how he/she

says it, you can determine important qualities.– He/she is unhappy, selfish, sarcastic, or

domineering, uneducated.

• The choice of words spoken can also reveal important information about the character’s age, education, culture, and values.

• http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/erin-brokovich/bonus-check?play=1

A character’s pastA character’s past• Setting of one’s upbringing is

important; we are the products of our early environment.

• Significant past experiences influence who we are and shape our personalities.

• Family background may also be important as it reveals values and traditions that are passed on from generation to generation.

A character’s comments about A character’s comments about othersothers

• What people say about others often reveals important information about them as well.

– How judgmental are they? How supportive?

Foil- characters who highlight the character traits of major characters. •The foil may be an opposite of the major character, so the major character’s strengths and virtues are more pronounced. •The foil may also be like the major character, but with lighter versions of the major character’s strengths and virtues. The major character is shown as even stronger.

Characters can also be “static” or “dynamic”.•Static Character- does not change throughout the course of the story; Cinderella’s stepmother, for instance, remains selfish and spiteful to the end.•Dynamic Character- undergoes a significant change in opinion or growth in character over the course of events in the story; An example would be Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s classic tale, A Christmas Carol. After being visited by the three ghosts (+ Marley), he realizesthe error of his ways and becomes kind and generous.•Stock Characters- characters based on a cultural stereotype

ProtagonistMain character of the story that changes•(death is not a change)•the most important character•changes and grows because of experiences in the story

AntagonistA major character who opposes the protagonist

the antagonist does not change

Types of antagonists:•people•nature•society

The Importance of Casting

•Helps us to:• observe truths about human nature•conform to some inner truth (man as we want him to be)•Makes the character understandable and worth caring about. •respond in some way: positive, negative, or if really well done, often mixed as it speaks to the complexity of the character.

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z1E75hTtCA

2:20•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZLUZ1eONhk