Character Introductions: Part 8
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 here.
Part 8: Introduction Through Dialogue (cont’d)
Distinguishes The Character
In the script Up in the Air [screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, based on a novel by Walter Kirn], the movie starts with a monologue that introduces the story’s Protagonist Ryan Bingham, his presentation at a seminar:
This represents a world view, a distinctive slant on life and a unique reflection of Ryan’s character, all neatly tied up in one monologue.
Moves The Plot Forward
In The Hangover [written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore], one of the story’s Protagonists Vick Lennon is introduced this way:
A significant amount of exposition here, but the focus of the scene is to set into motion the plot of the movie: Vick and the “two other guys” have to locate Doug.
Each of these introductions use dialogue in a different way to create a clear sense of the scene’s respective character.
Note: The first three examples are monologues. The conventional wisdom nowadays is to discourage writing long dialogue sides, let alone monologues. But as we can see above, a monologue can be a great way to introduce a character. That said, a majority of the times we use dialogue in a character introduction will be one part along with other narrative elements [e.g., action, objects, physical description].
Finally let us not forget that we can go the opposite direction of a monologue — that is really brief dialogue — as a means of introducing a character like these:
“Fuck!” — Charles [Four Weddings and a Funeral]
“Dirty night.” — Norman Bates [Psycho]
“Rosebud.” — Charles Foster Kane [Citizen Kane]
Oftentimes less is more, and this is especially true in the case of dialogue as movies are primarily a visual medium.
Summary
In a screenplay, dialogue is communication with a purpose. Perhaps nowhere is this purpose more apparent than when we introduce a character for we can use dialogue to usher a new player into our story by conveying exposition, revealing their inner life, distinguishing them from other characters, and moving the plot forward.
