7.2 Character Analysis and Development

Character analysis and development are crucial skills for actors. They involve digging into a character's backstory, personality, and motivations to bring them to life on stage. Understanding these elements helps actors create authentic, nuanced performances.

This topic builds on the broader theme of script interpretation. By analyzing characters deeply, actors can better understand the overall story and their role within it. This knowledge informs choices about how to portray characters effectively.

Character Foundations

Crafting Backstory and Personality

Top images from around the web for Crafting Backstory and Personality

• 

  GLOBAL AWARENESS 101 - Let your VOICE be heard and get involved. OUR future depends on it!: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Personality Traits | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists | Introduction to Psychology – Brown-Weinstock View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  GLOBAL AWARENESS 101 - Let your VOICE be heard and get involved. OUR future depends on it!: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Personality Traits | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Crafting Backstory and Personality

• 

  GLOBAL AWARENESS 101 - Let your VOICE be heard and get involved. OUR future depends on it!: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Personality Traits | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Trait Theorists | Introduction to Psychology – Brown-Weinstock View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  GLOBAL AWARENESS 101 - Let your VOICE be heard and get involved. OUR future depends on it!: The ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Personality Traits | Organizational Behavior and Human Relations View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Backstory shapes a character's worldview and behaviors
  • Includes significant life events, upbringing, and past experiences
  • Informs character's present actions and decisions
• Personality traits define a character's unique identity
  • Encompasses habits, quirks, and behavioral patterns
  • Influences how the character interacts with others and responds to situations
• Physical characteristics contribute to a character's overall presence
  • Includes appearance, mannerisms, and distinctive features
  • Affects how other characters perceive and respond to them
• Relationships form the character's social network
  • Encompasses family ties, friendships, and romantic connections
  • Shapes the character's support system and potential conflicts

Developing Character Depth

• Explore character contradictions to create complexity
  • Juxtapose contrasting traits (kind but short-tempered)
  • Adds depth and makes characters more relatable
• Establish character values and beliefs
  • Defines moral compass and decision-making processes
  • Influences character's actions and reactions throughout the story
• Create character strengths and weaknesses
  • Balances the character and provides opportunities for growth
  • Affects how the character approaches challenges and obstacles

Character Goals and Conflicts

Understanding Character Objectives

• Character objectives drive the story forward
  • Represents what the character wants to achieve or obtain
  • Can be short-term goals or long-term aspirations
• Inner conflicts arise from internal struggles
  • Stems from conflicting desires, beliefs, or moral dilemmas
  • Creates tension and complexity within the character
• External conflicts involve obstacles outside the character
  • Includes conflicts with other characters, society, or nature
  • Provides challenges for the character to overcome
• Character motivation fuels actions and decisions
  • Explains why the character pursues their objectives
  • Can be rooted in desires, fears, or past experiences

Crafting Compelling Conflicts

• Develop multi-layered conflicts to increase story depth
  • Combine internal and external conflicts (personal struggle vs. societal expectations)
  • Creates more engaging and complex narratives
• Establish stakes for the character's goals
  • Defines what the character stands to gain or lose
  • Increases tension and audience investment in the character's journey
• Create obstacles that challenge the character's weaknesses
  • Forces the character to confront their limitations
  • Provides opportunities for growth and character development

Character Development

Mapping Character Growth

• Character arc traces the character's journey of change
  • Outlines the character's starting point, challenges, and eventual transformation
  • Can be positive (growth), negative (decline), or flat (resistance to change)
• Character transformation shows evolution throughout the story
  • Involves changes in beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors
  • Results from experiences, conflicts, and interactions with other characters
• Identify key turning points in the character's journey
  • Includes moments of realization, decision-making, or significant events
  • Marks important shifts in the character's development

Implementing Character Change

• Gradual development creates believable character growth
  • Avoids sudden, unrealistic changes in personality or behavior
  • Shows incremental shifts in the character's perspective or actions
• Use external events to catalyze internal change
  • Demonstrates how experiences shape the character's growth
  • Creates a connection between plot events and character development
• Reflect character growth through dialogue and actions
  • Shows how the character's responses evolve over time
  • Reinforces the character's transformation for the audience