Depicting Character
in 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:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
personality traits
physical appearance and name
actions
choices
speech
thoughts and feelings
past
comments about others
comments made by others
A 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 & 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--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--internal
Usually unseen and unheard
•Secrets, fantasies, daydreams, memories,
fears, insecurities
•Taking us visually or aurally into the
character’s mind
•Sensitive, expressive face shotsreaction shots
•Sometimes a musical score
A 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 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/erinbrokovich/bonus-check?play=1
A 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 others
• 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 realizes
the error of his ways and becomes kind and
generous.
•Stock Characters- characters based on a
cultural stereotype
Protagonist
Main character of the story that
changes
•(death is not a change)
•the most important character
•changes and grows because
of experiences in the story
Antagonist
A 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