Character Introductions: Part 7

Think there’s nothing to introducing characters in a script? Think again!

Over the next few weeks, I’m doing a deep dive into the subject of character introductions. Why the hell would I do that?

Read Part 1 for background.

Part 2 here.

Part 3 here.

Part 4 here.

Part 5 here.

Part 6 here.

Part 7: Introduction Through Dialogue

In a screenplay, dialogue is not conversation. It is communication. Communication with a purpose. This leads us to an Essential Principle of Screenwriting:

Dialogue = Purpose

We can look at dialogue as purpose in these four ways:

· Dialogue conveys exposition.

· Dialogue reveals a character’s inner life.

· Dialogue distinguishes one character from another.

· Dialogue moves the plot forward.

There is a special spotlight trained on dialogue expressed in a character’s introduction as the first words out of their mouth can be a critical component in how a reader interprets that figure. A writer can use dialogue in each of these four ways to help craft unique, memorable and entertaining character introductions.

Let’s look at movie examples that demonstrate each of these four dialogue dynamics.

Dialogue Conveys Exposition

In the script Bull Durham [written by Ron Shelton], the story’s Attractor character Annie Savoy is introduced through a voice-over narrative. Here is the entirety of that dialogue:

Annie Savoy in “Bull Durham”

This monologue reveals a lot about Annie’s inner life and certainly sets her up as a distinctive individual, but focus on all the exposition that slips in through these entertaining lines:

· She’s a spiritual seeker.

· She gave up on Christianity.

· She has relationships with baseball players.

· She conveys wisdom to these baseball players.

· She’s a fan of poetry.

· She likes sex.

· She believes in the Church of Baseball.

In a few short minutes, we learn all we need to know about Annie to have a clear sense of who she is and what she is about.

Dialogue Conveys A Character’s Inner Life

In the script Adaptation [written by Charlie Kaufman & Donald Kaufman], the movie begins with another example of voice-over narration, introducing the story’s Protagonist Charlie Kaufman:

Charlie Kaufman in “Adaptation”

There is exposition in this side — he is balding, he is fat, he has a bump on his leg — but the primary thrust of the monologue is to reveal Charlie’s inner life: self-loathing, negative, conflicted, filled with doubts, overthinking, anxious. This side presents the dark shadow self of Charlie’s character which bedevils him throughout the story and is a powerful dynamic in virtually every scene.

Tomorrow we look how dialogue can be used in character introductions to distinguish between characters and move the plot forward.