Just wondering how much to write for character essays....

How much detail do you need in the essays.

Do you go back to when they are born and create a biography up until present date or just some short paragraphs about what kind of a person they are, what they like, who they like...that kind of stuff

In general, the more detailed, the better. If you want to go back to birth, fine, but also try to get as specific as possible with events that may have affected their life (birthdays, graduation, car crash, first love, death in family, etc). It's not really just a biography and you shouldn't just say what kind of a person they are. Show, with events, what kind of a person they are.

all the best,

Excellent joren thanks thats all i needed to know...

cheers duffy...

I think it comes down to your own personal preference and writing style. I write less than one page on each character I put in a script. Since they've lived in my head so much, I think just the basics are essential to sort of help me get into their heads and then the rest is felt. Though I guess it all depends on why you're writing what you're writing.. whether it's something you're passionate about or just some idea you thought might work. Everyone is different.

ive never written character essays before. ive never needed to. i see it as something you do if youre stuck in the writing process. ideally, i let the characters write themselves, and i keep all the backstory in the back of my mind.

a far as im concearned, character bios are a waste of time.

Some people use them some people don't. It's probably not a bad idea for a new screenwriter. Make them in-depth enough that you feel like you know who this person is if you decide to use them.


Some of my wife's clients map out the whole script then fill in the blanks, and some like to do it all freeform and see where the scripts goes (obviously, you can only do that on a spec -- if you're hired to write for assignment you'll have guidelines that need to be met --- or you'll get fired) that way it's always fresh to them.


Either way works...


Jay