Character Builder – Biography
Answer in FIRST person:
SUPER OBJECTIVE: I want to (insert verb) & finish sentence:
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ATTITUDE LINE/GERM: I am (insert adjective) [what character thinks of self]:
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IDENTIFY YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE:
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WHAT SECONDARY SOURCES WILL YOU USE FOR THIS ROLE?
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Fundamentals
Story Title
Character Name
Protagonist/supporter
Antagonist/supporter
Physical Appearance- DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER
Gender
Age
Height
Weight
Hair
Main character
Minor character
Eyes
Distinguishing Marks
Distinguishing Mannerisms
Describe the character's appearance in a brief paragraph:
Background- DO RESEARCH & CREATE YOUR OWN IMAGINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES
Birth date
Family members
Birthplace
Family members
Relevance of family in this story:
Ethnic origin
Family members
Circle any of the following which are relevant to this story:
Childhood
Friends
Education
Religion
Enemies
Love
Marital Status
Money
Briefly explain the relevant items:
Personality
In one word:
First impression:
Gets angry at:
Laughs at:
Cries at:
Regrets:
Vulnerability:
Prejudices:
Fears:
Most valued possession (and why):
Pressing need:
Pressing desire:
Other goals:
Responsibilities:
Sense of humor:
Secrets
Employment
Other positive personality traits:
Other negative personality traits (character flaws):
How are these relevant to the story?
Other details
Hobbies:
Skills:
Smells:
Favorite color:
Favorite food:
Favorite beverage:
Favorite music:
Favorite clothing:
Describe this character's home:
Story Relevance
What complications arise from this character?
SCRIPT WORK- MARK IN SCRIPT:
1. Please highlight your character name before each line in one color
2. Please highlight your lines (not stage directions!) in a brightdifferent- color
3. Write your super-objective on the FRONT COVER of the script
4. Identify and write your scene objective (which supports the
super-objective) at the top of each page you are in.
5. Find all the moments in the script that present an OBSTACLE
(what prevents you from achieving your objective), and mark with
a triangle with an exclamation mark!
6. Find all of the moments where you DO something. (Put on new
dress, light a cigarette, etc.), and UNDERLINE with a squiggly line.
7. Go through the script and UNDERLINE all of the “Given
Circumstances” relevant to YOUR character with a straight line
(what the playwright gives you that is undisputed info)
8. Find places with heightened emotion- places where you will have
to draw on your own emotional experiences (no matter how small
your experiences seem to you)- and mark “EM” in the margin.
9. Find your entrances- note:
WHAT DID I JUST DO? WHAT
AM I DOING NOW? WHAT’S THE FIRST THING I WANT OR
EXPECT AS I ENTER?
10.ON ANOTHER SHEET OF PAPER: write out your character’s plot
line (exposition, etc.)- this is your character arc.
a. HOW has your character changed at the end of the story?