3.2 Character voice and consistency

Character voice is the unique way characters express themselves through dialogue. It encompasses word choice, syntax, rhythm, and attitude, reflecting their personality, background, and emotions. Understanding character voice is crucial for creating authentic, memorable characters that resonate with audiences.

Consistency in character voice is key to maintaining believability throughout a script. While minor variations can show growth or changing circumstances, the core elements of a character's voice should remain recognizable. Developing distinct voices for each character helps bring them to life and deepens audience engagement.

Defining character voice

• Character voice refers to the distinct way a character speaks and expresses themselves, encompassing word choice, syntax, rhythm, and attitude
• Understanding character voice is crucial for writing authentic, memorable dialogue that brings characters to life on the page and screen

Elements of voice

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• Diction and vocabulary reflect a character's education level, social class, profession, and personality (formal vs casual, simple vs complex, jargon)
• Syntax and sentence structure vary based on a character's thought patterns, emotional state, and background (short vs long, fragmented vs fluid)
  • Characters may speak in incomplete sentences, ramble, or be very precise and articulate
• Rhythm and pacing of speech indicate a character's energy, confidence, and state of mind (rapid-fire vs halting, steady vs erratic)
• Attitude, tone, and emotion infuse a character's dialogue, revealing their outlook, mood, and intentions (sarcastic, sincere, anxious, confident)

Voice vs characterization

• Voice is how a character communicates, while characterization encompasses their entire persona, including appearance, backstory, and behavior
• Well-crafted voice supports and enhances characterization, providing a window into a character's inner world and motivations
• Distinctive voice makes characters more engaging and relatable, helping audiences connect with them on a deeper level

Consistency of voice

• Characters should maintain a consistent voice throughout a script, even as they experience different emotions and situations
• Inconsistent voice can be jarring for the audience and undermine the believability of the character and the story
• Minor variations in voice can reflect character growth or changes in circumstance, but the core elements should remain recognizable

Developing unique voices

Personality and voice

• A character's personality traits shape their voice, such as confidence, sense of humor, empathy, or pessimism
• Extroverted characters may have a more animated, expressive voice, while introverts may be more reserved or measured in their speech
• Characters with strong opinions or beliefs may use more assertive or persuasive language

Background influences

• Factors like age, education, profession, and regional background impact a character's voice
• Older characters may use dated references or expressions, while younger characters may employ more contemporary slang
• Characters with higher education might use more sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentence structures
• Regional dialects and accents can add specificity and flavor to a character's voice (Southern drawl, British RP)

Verbal tics and quirks

• Unique speech patterns, catchphrases, or mannerisms make a character's voice more distinct and memorable
• Verbal tics like stuttering, trailing off, or overusing certain words can hint at a character's insecurities or thought processes
• Catchphrases or signature expressions can become associated with a character, reinforcing their personality (Bugs Bunny's "What's up, doc?")

Techniques for consistent voice

Character bible for reference

• Creating a detailed character bible that outlines each character's key voice attributes and examples helps maintain consistency
• Writers can refer to the character bible when crafting dialogue to ensure they stay true to each character's established voice
• The bible should include notes on diction, syntax, rhythm, attitude, and any specific quirks or mannerisms

Dialogue pass focusing on voice

• After completing a draft, do a pass focusing solely on dialogue to refine each character's voice
• Read each character's lines in isolation to assess consistency and distinctiveness
• Make adjustments to word choice, syntax, and rhythm to better align with the character's established voice

Feedback from table reads

• Table reads with actors can provide valuable insights into how a character's voice translates from page to performance
• Hearing the dialogue out loud can reveal inconsistencies, awkward phrasing, or lack of distinction between voices
• Incorporate feedback from table reads to refine and strengthen character voices in subsequent drafts

Voice in different genres

Voice in comedy vs drama

• Comedic voices often rely on exaggeration, irony, and setup-punchline structures to generate laughs
• Dramatic voices tend to be more grounded, nuanced, and focused on revealing character psychology and relationships
• Some genres, like dramedies, blend elements of both comedic and dramatic voices to create a mix of tones

Stylized vs naturalistic voice

• Stylized voices, common in heightened genres like farce or satire, prioritize wit, wordplay, and rhetorical flourishes over realism
• Naturalistic voices aim to mimic everyday speech patterns, complete with pauses, filler words, and imperfect grammar
• The choice between stylized and naturalistic voice depends on the genre, tone, and intended audience of the script

Genre conventions for voice

• Certain genres have established conventions for character voices that shape audience expectations
• Film noir often features hard-boiled, cynical dialogue peppered with metaphors and similes
• Period pieces may incorporate archaic language, formality, and cultural references specific to the era
• Sci-fi and fantasy scripts can invent unique slang, jargon, or speech patterns to create a sense of otherworldliness

Common voice pitfalls

Clichéd or stereotypical voices

• Relying on clichéd or stereotypical voices can make characters feel flat, unoriginal, and even offensive
• Stereotypes based on factors like race, gender, or age fail to capture the complexity and individuality of real people
• Aim to create unique, multi-dimensional characters that subvert or transcend stereotypes

Inconsistency over course of script

• Inconsistent character voice breaks the audience's immersion and undermines the script's integrity
• Avoid sudden shifts in diction, syntax, or attitude that don't align with a character's established voice or arc
• If a character's voice does change, it should be a deliberate choice that reflects their journey and growth

Lack of distinction between voices

• If character voices are too similar, it can be difficult for the audience to tell them apart or connect with them as individuals
• Differentiate voices through specific word choices, speech patterns, and attitudes that reflect each character's distinct personality and background
• A script with homogeneous voices often feels flat and fails to capture the richness of human interaction

Strengthening character voice

Subtext and implication in dialogue

• Strong character voice goes beyond surface-level dialogue to convey subtext, revealing characters' true feelings, desires, and motivations
• Implication allows characters to communicate indirectly, hinting at deeper meanings and relationships
• Subtext and implication add depth and nuance to character voices, inviting the audience to read between the lines

Specificity and detail in voice

• Infusing character voice with specific details and references can make the dialogue feel more authentic and grounded
• Incorporate elements from a character's background, interests, or experiences to give their voice a sense of history and depth
• Avoid generic or vague language in favor of precise, evocative word choices that paint a vivid picture

Rewriting for voice consistency

• Refining character voice often requires multiple passes and rewrites to achieve consistency and clarity
• Read the script aloud, focusing on each character's dialogue, to identify and correct any inconsistencies or awkward phrasing
• Solicit feedback from trusted readers or collaborators to gauge the effectiveness and distinctiveness of each character's voice
• Be willing to cut or rework lines that don't serve the character or story, ensuring that every piece of dialogue has a purpose and aligns with the established voice