Character Work

In class we looked at how a stories narrative can start either at the beginning, middle and end. It doesn't have to be completely linear. With this we thought about the order of the film Shrek and worked out that this was in fact a fairly linear narrative. However, there were many layers to it, which was determined by all the characters different actions and motives. 
When thinking about our own short films, its going to be imperative to come up with characters in extreme detail and work out what all their motives etc are going to be. In any key story there are the main characters, using Shrek as the example we have: 
The Hero or Protagonist: Shrek
The Mirror: Donkey
The Villain: Lord Farquad 
The Romance: Princess Fiona. 
Having these four types of characters is a great basis for thinking all about short film ideas. We got sent away in small groups to create our own story with these types of characters, ensuring there were many layers and a final resolution. We were told to create a biography for each one of the characters we came up with:- 

Character One: The Protagonist: Zara 
-Zara is female and 21 years of age. 
-She's 8 Stone and fairly petite, dark green incredibly expressive eyes and dark brown, midlength hair, a pale skin complexion, with small dimples when smiling. She's quite shy and often looks down when she smiles. She is quite against smoking, but finds herself doing it occasionally when drunk in social situations, its something that annoys her about herself. 
-Zara has a very British accent, soft but well pronounced. Shes incredibly articulate and good at getting her point across effectively. She often giggles when she's unsure of what to say. 
-She lives in student accommodation, but keeps incredibly focused on her uni work. Often enjoys a good night out, or trip for lunch, or for a coffee with her close friends. 
- She has a boyfriend, who's she's been with for about a year now. She thinks she's in love with him. or "as in love with someone as you can get at the age of 23" as she often says. 
- He lives in near by student accommodation, however is originally from Australia. 
-She has wealthy parents so finds herself comfortable financial wise at university. 
-Zara is an intern at a magazine editors in London, and hopes that she will hopefully move up the ranks in the company. Her dream is to become assistant editor. Luckily she has a very good relationship with her boss, and gets great opportunities handed on a plate.
-Zara had an education at a small boarding school through her high school years, Windlesham House School, just outside Surrey. 
-She's lived in England all her life, but has been able to go on many lovely family holidays, and her parents own a house in Kenya that they often visit for christmas.
-Unlike her parents Zara is very open minded to different sexualities, she is heterosexual herself, but going to university in London, its opened her eyes and put her feet a little bit more on the ground.
-Zara is an avid reader and writes whenever she can. She's had an interest in books ever since she was little. Her father was also a big reader and used to take her to the library every week when she was younger. 
-Zara is a charming person, she's disarmingly attractive, although doesn't know it herself. She dresses modestly and never puts herself on display. She fully respects herself. She doesn't often lose her temper and she really hates confrontation. Because she's good with words she can normally air her feelings in a very polite and dignified way, even if they are slightly negative. 
-She's in a very ambitious circle of friends, so they don't get to see each other that often, but when they do they all have a laugh and are incredibly close. 
-Zara's favourite colour is white. She has no reason for this, other than its plain and simple. Her star sign is cancer which means she's very empathetic and conscientious of others. 
-Other than wanting to be a magazine editor Zara's other life ambition is the help her boyfriend move permanently from  Australia after university. 
-At the end of the piece their development should be that he cant afford to move to England permanently, so she is going to have to move to Australia. They spend some time apart whilst their visa things get sorted out, during this time Zara falls for another, much more well suited man. She then has to make  the decision about whether to move.. the audience never finds out this decision. 

 Character Two: Romance: Robin 
- Robin is male and 23 years old. 
-He is 12 stone and tall. He keeps himself fit, but hasn't got the physique of a broad rugby player or anything like that, he has a more athletic build. 
-His hair is dark and curley. He has deep round brown eyes. He's quite tanned. He has a charming awkwardness around him, especially in new social situations. 
-He's intellectual so strives far more in a profession environment, rather than social. 
-Robin has an australian twang to his voice, but due to living in the UK for uni and spending a lot of time around the British it has got a little less harsh. 
-He is living in student accommodation, his flat is small and modest, but it has everything he needs. Its light and airy which is perfect for him as he is an artist, and studying fine art at university. 
-Robin is often out, mostly on his own just looking around the streets of London for art inspiration. He has two really good male friends, but he spends most of his time with his girlfriend, Zara. 
-Robin doesn't have much to do with his parents, as their in Australia and they never really understood his passion for art, or to be in the UK. They would much rather him be studying a more academic subject and become something 'worthwhile to society' like an accountant. They don't have a lot of money, which is why they wanted Robin to be the financial high flyer. 
-Because his parents aren't around to support him he works part time in a bar and then to gain experience he stewards at a local art gallery. 
-Robin attended his local comprehensive school in Australia, it was a good school, but never really pushed his art to the greatest potential. It wasn't until he attended a local art school that he realised his true ability. 
-Because Robin keeps his self to himself he never really gets the chance to have a real temper or attitude. If he's ever angry he lets it out through painting or drawing. This sometimes aggravates his girlfriend, seeing as she's good with words. She would rather an articulate response to an argument, rather than him just shutting himself away and painting.
-Robin dresses well. He understands fashion, due to his love for art and creativity. He is always in fashion. 
-Robins ambition is to become an acclaimed artist, he hopes to be able to show is paintings in his own gallery and sell them. 

Character Three: Mirror: Zara's Mum, Clarissa.
-Clarissa is female and 52 years old.
-She is 9 stone and 5ft6", she is quite glamorous and has a very good body for her age. She does fitness classes at her local gym at least once a week. Looks is very important to her and her mid length, wavey hazel brown hair is kept immaculately. Like her daughter she has dark green eyes. Her skin has turned an olive-y colour after many lavish holidays, more after Zara her daughter went to university. 
-Zara is incredibly accustomed to being in social situations and thrives off being the centre of attention. She is very proud of who she is and especially proud of her only daughter. 
-Clarissa married well, so has never had to work in her life. Although to prevent any boredom she does charity work linked with Kenya, as she has a property there. 
-She speaks articulately, however has the reputation of being loud and very gregarious, which she embraces. "Better to be loud than boring" is one of her many phrases. 
-Clarissa and her husband have just moved to a old farmhouse just outside Winchester, however before she was living in a house in Richmond in London. When Zara decided to go to university in London, Clarissa thought it best to move a little further a field giving her daughter the space she needed. 
-Clarissa has a great group of girlfriends, who she see's on a regular basis, although most of them live in London and surrounding areas, Clarissa often invited her friends over for long weekends. 
-She's never needed to have any ambition really, as she married her husband at a young age, and has had financial support from him fully. She had the potential as she attended Cheltenham Ladies College and received a fantastic education, then got an English Literature degree at St Andrews university. She had the potential to go on and do something great. Although a life of leisure has suited her well. 
-Clarissa has a very open relationship with her daughter, however she does most of the talking and isn't sure the feelings of openness are mutual with her and her daughter. As Zara spent most of her childhood and boarding schools, she keeps her self to herself. 
-Often Clarissa reflects on her life and peruses thoughts concerning her life, if she hadn't fallen so well on her feet. 

Character Four: Villain: Barnaby.  
-Barnaby is male and 22 years old. 
-He is has a well build rugby player build, and keeps himself extremely fit by playing rugby and going to the gym every day. Personal appearance is very important to him and he really cares what people  think about him.
-He has light blonde hair and blue eyes and is stereotypically very attractive. 
-Barnaby is the life and soul of every social situation and makes sure he has a good time. He has a reputation for sleeping around a bit, but his seemingly infectious personality overrides his 'Lad' reputation. 
-Although Barnaby has a great interest in sports and would have loved to pursue a career in the sporting field, he settled for being a lawyer, and does very well at his job.
-Barnaby never went to university, is father managed to set him up with all the right connections to get his good job. 
-Because of his high social status and high powered job Barnaby is very used to getting what he wants and doesn't like it at all if he doesn't. 
Barnaby has known Zara since school and has always had his eye on her, however she was always far to naive and quiet to notice. Realising that Zara is in a relationship with an almost pennyless, student, studying art, he takes it upon himself to try and throw himself at her once more.
-Barnaby lives in a pent house in Barnes which is very near to Zaras old family home, so often tried to linger around the area to catch a glimpse of her. Barnaby has lived in Barnes all his life so his parents don't live far away from him, he's a mummy's boy at heart. 
-His ambition is to earn as much money as he possibly can, so he can forever have his lavish life style. "Work hard, Play harder" is his moto and he sticks to it as much as he can.