What is cast of characters?
In screenwriting, cast of characters refers to the collection of all the actors and actresses who play the specific roles that helps to narrate your entire story.
These characters are classified into major and minor characters, and each of them must play the role of bringing your story to life in such a way that will captivate your audience.
Types of characters in a cast.
The different types of characters in a cast are the major characters, minor characters and the supporting characters.
- The Major characters or else the 2 main types of characters are the protagonists and antagonists, the protagonist is the main character that the whole story revolves around. He is often referred to as the hero in every storyline; while the antagonist, also known as the villain in every storyline is the character who usually opposes the protagonist and his role is always to create the obstacles that the protagonist is expected to overcome. To make your story more interesting, always ensure your protagonist and antagonist are pursuing the same goal but with different motives; and in order to help your audience know the difference between them, you must link the good motive to your protagonist and the bad to your antagonist.
- Minor characters, also known as “waka pass” here in Nigeria are those characters in a cast who appears briefly in the story to help explain or show a specific narrative. The most popular in Nollywood are gossipers whose main goal is to help the audience know a thing or two about a particular cast.
- Supporting characters are the characters who supports both the protagonist and antagonist in the entire narrative. They could be their family members, friends and foes, colleagues, or even partners in crime. Their duty is to help advance the plot in your screenplay.
How to create a cast of characters in a screenplay.
To create a cast of characters for your screenplay you must ensure you develop your characters profiles, show how your characters are related to each other, give your characters their specific roles and make them related to their audiences.
- Develop your characters profile.
- Show how your characters are related to each other.
- Give your characters their specific roles.
- Make your characters relatable to the audience.
- Create a balance between your cast of characters.
1. Develop your characters profile.
The first step to create a cast of characters for your screenplay is to create a detailed profiles of your characters which includes their personality, background, goals, obstacles and what motivates them to pursue that goal.
Developing your characters profiles will help you to remain organized and ensure consistency throughout your screenplay.
2. Show how your characters are related to each other.
All the cast of characters in your screenplay needs to be related in one way or another, and for that reason you must ensure you establish your characters relationship as a way of creating a cast of characters for your screenplay.
The relationship between your characters are defined in the conflicts and alliances that revolves around your characters.
3. Give your characters their specific roles.
Each f the characters in your screenplay must have a clear or specific role in the story and you must make sure the cast is balanced and diverse.
Considering the fact that your protagonist is going to be the central character whom the whole story revolves around, you must aim to define specific roles for the other characters who are going to either be for or against him.
4. Make your characters relatable to your audience.
To make your screenplay more interesting, your audience needs to see their lives reflected in your cast of characters.
One of the ways to achieve this is to create believable characters whose life style or what they are going through in the movie will be similar to that of those who are watching them.
5. Create a balance between your cast of characters.
Example of cast of characters in a screenplay.
Below are some of the examples of cast of characters in a screenplay.
- The Avengers: This screenplay parades a team of superheroes, like the Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow, who works hand in hand to save the world.
- The Lord of the Rings: Has a fellowship of characters, which includes Frodo, Sam, and Aragorn, who embarks on a perilous journey aiming as destroying the One Ring.
- The Breakfast Club: This story has a cast of characters as a group of high school students, including Claire, Andrew, and Brian, who spend a Saturday in detention together and discover their shared struggles and connections.
