How to write character development in a screenplay.
Below are the basic steps you need to follow if you want to write a compelling character development in a screenplay:
- Write your character development in the present tense.
- Use actions to reveal your characters personality.
- Dialogue can also be helpful for showing who your character is.
- Use inciting incident to set your character development in motion.
- Use character arc to change your character’s personality.
- Create obstacles to show how uncertain life is for your character.
- Rising actions are also necessary to show how your character deals with the challenges of life.
- Employ climax to show your character’s turning point.
- Use resolution to show what finally becomes of your character.
1. Write your character development in the present tense.
Many beginner screenwriters always make the mistake of writing their character development in the past tense, not knowing that since your screenplay is going to be an happening thing it must be written in the present tense.
Never used any past tense word, even if you are going to write a flash back scene or scenes, rather let all your writing be done in the present tense.
This is because the narrative of every screenplay takes place in the present moment you are writing it as well as the present moment your reader is also reading it.
2. Use actions to reveal your characters personality.
Use actions in writing your character development to reveal exactly who your character is. Thus instead of attempting to tell your reader or audience about your characters personality, use their actions; that is what they are doing from scene to scene to make such revelations.
We all know the saying “action speaks louder than words”. This saying is very significant in the art of writing a screenplay because it will help wither your reader or audience to easily tell who your character is.
For instance, showing how your character walks into a grocery store to steal an item will quickly help your readers to understand that he is a thief.
3. Dialogue can also be helpful for showing who your character is.
Sometimes there might be a lack of location, props or the absence of a cast to will help you establish a particular scene, in this case you can employ dialogue to reveal what you want your reader or audience to know about your character.
To use this method wisely, you can create a scene where your character confides in a friend or family member over something he did that portrays who he really is.
4. Use inciting incident to set your character development in motion.
An inciting incidence is a series of events or experiences that shapes your characters behavior, or simply put causes your character to behave the way he does.
For example, your character might chose to become a thief after he looses both parents at an early age and has no one to take care of him.
5. Use character arc to change your character’s personality.
Character arc is another great way to write your character development, and this method involves making your character to behave in a way that opposes his past behavior.
But make sure you create an event or encounter that forces your character to change his behavior or attitude.
6. Create obstacles to show how uncertain life is for your character.
There is no way that human beings will go through real life without facing one challenges or another.
The poor might face the challenge of financial incapacity that makes them look unhealthy because they have no food to eat, while the rich might face an health challenge that has no cure, and you can use this to show the narrative that there are times when money cannot buy life.
6. Rising actions are also necessary to show how your character deals with the challenges of life.
You can consider rising action as another obstacle that keeps introducing themselves once your character deals with the previous ones and thinks he is now at peace.
We call it suspense at times, and it is one method that screenwriters use to keep their audience glued to their seats and watch the movie to the very end.
Never allow your audience to predict what your characters next step might be else they will find one excuse or another to stop watching your film.
7. Employ climax to show your character’s turning point.
Make sure you use climax every time you are writing your character development because it is this climax that will enable you to show your readers when your character fully comes to understand who he really is.
We call the climax a turning point or moment that marks a significant change, twist or shift in your character development.
8. Use resolution to show what finally becomes of your character.
The resolution is the outcome of your character’s whole life.
If it is tragic your character must not make it to the next day, but if it is a drama your character will wake up to a blissful phase of existence.
Many screenwriters usually mess up their whole story at this point concluding it is a suspense, that is they are leaving the audience to figure out what will become of the character.
But I want to assure you that if you do not end your screenplay in a way that satisfies the audience, they will swear never to watch your movie again.
