Character Development in Film

Gordy Hoffman discusses the development of secondary characters in screenwriting, emphasizing the importance of giving each character enough moments for the audience to connect with. He explains that character arcs should have a beginning, middle, and end, and that emotional and interior journeys are crucial. Hoffman highlights the significance of relatable moments and the impact of the volume of moments on character relationships. He also discusses the constraints of screenplay length and provides examples from CASABLANCA, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones to illustrate his points.

Why is cast size an important consideration in developing secondary characters?

• It determines the budget of the film.

• It affects the amount of screen time each character can have.

• It influences the genre of the screenplay.

• It dictates the number of locations needed.

What is crucial for audience connection with characters?

• The character's costume design.

• The setting of the film.

• The number of emotional moments they have.

• The character's background story.

How can a character's journey be developed?

• Through a series of unrelated events.

• By focusing on their emotional, interior, and external journeys.

• By placing them in a single location.

• By giving them a unique costume.

What makes character moments relatable to the audience?

• Exotic locations.

• Complex dialogue.

• High-stakes and emotional situations.

• Famous actors playing the roles.

What should writers avoid when developing characters?

• Focusing on the screenplay's theme.

• Creating emotional moments.

• Using a formulaic approach.

• Developing a character arc.

How does the volume of moments affect character development?

• It reduces the need for dialogue.

• It complicates the plot.

• It enhances audience connection with the character.

• It makes the screenplay longer.

Why do films like CASABLANCA have small cast sizes?

• To focus the story on a few key characters.

• To reduce production costs.

• To allow for more action scenes.

• To simplify the script.

How does a longer series like Game of Thrones differ in character development?

• It allows for more characters to be developed due to more screen time.

• It has fewer emotional moments.

• It uses a formulaic approach.

• It focuses on a single character.