by Angela Arndt, @aearndt
Inspiration from a Screenplay
I have chronic pain and there are some days that I’m unable to do much more than watch television <gasp!> Still, we can learn something from that thing my daddy called, “the idiot box.”
For example, here’s the scene where a major character is introduced in a new show. What can you learn about Rios from this short (18-seconds of video) exchange?
Seated and shirtless, Rios uses a mini blow torch to light his cigar, he grimaces at the shaft of metal protruding from his shoulder.
A man scurries to his side. “So, what seems to be the problem?”
Rios looks up, his cigar hanging from his mouth. “Are you kidding me?” He turns to see someone approaching his chair from behind.
“Hey,” Rios calls out.
An elderly, bald man comes closer. “Are you—”
“Yes.” He gestures toward the younger man. “He’s just an [aide].”
“Just?” The younger man’s voice rises.
The newcomer offers his hand. “I’m, uh—”
“I know who you are.” A half-smile crosses Rios’ face as he motions with his good arm. “I read your book one time.”
“What happened to you?”
He narrows his eyes at the shard, then turns away, clenching his cigar in his teeth. “I didn’t die.”¹
Who is Rios?
What makes him memorable? He’s tough, calm in the face of emergencies, and enjoys smoking cigars. He’s seen a few battles. His impatience and constant sarcasm probably hide deep emotional wounds and it takes a lot to earn his respect.
Who’s in Charge?
The elderly visitor, Jean-Luc Picard, is the hero of this series and Rios is his supporting character. After his stint as captain of the USS Enterprise (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Picard became the Starfleet admiral. But flashbacks in earlier episodes show the one event that ended his career.
Rios’ introduction confirms Picard’s fall from grace. When he entered the room, Rios remained seated. He even turns away when Picard shows concern for his wounded shoulder. This adds tension to their partnership and keeps people watching.
“You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression” – Will Rogers
Use introductory scenes to further your story by increasing tension and mystery. Here’s a few tips to make your characters unforgettable:
- “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
“Show, don’t tell,” one of the first sayings a writer learns, means don’t describe your character, but let their actions create a picture in your readers’ minds. How? Determine what motivates them and use that to introduce them.
Will Rios stay a self-serving mercenary, or will he accept Picard’s offer? He looks and acts like a scoundrel, but his half-smile and admission that he read Picard’s book gives a glimpse of who Rios once was.
We can’t use images to show our characters’ faces as screenwriters do, however we can use action to show our characters’ hearts.
- “Resist the Urge to Explain.”
Create mystery in your characters by holding back. If you watch the entire sequence (link below), you’ll see they never explain why Rios has a piece of metal in one shoulder or a big chip on the other. That makes us worry and we can do the same thing.
How? Create a secret past for your characters. Show your paratrooper/hero shouting orders but when he steps up to the opening, make him hesitate a little before he jumps. Is he nervous? Wounded? A little unexplained action creates a lot of tension.
- “If you’re going to poke a dragon, use a big stick.”
“Don’t poke the bear,” means don’t provoke someone or cause trouble. But a trouble-free character is boring. Build a better hero by creating a Hulk-sized flaw and exploit it in the introduction.
Rios is like a dragon, holed up in his ship/cave, wounded by shrapnel and a healthy mistrust of authority. Picard’s stick, his rank, is upgraded by his proposed mission to a banned area of space. Rios’ stoic, but sarcastic, response keeps us wanting more.
Heartfelt Motivation + Secret Past + An Exploited Fault = An Unforgettable Character
When you introduce your characters in an action scene that shows their heart, hints at their secrets, then ramps up the emotion by exposing a fault, you create complex personalities that your readers won’t forget.
Application
Think about your favorite or movie or television characters. List how they were introduced to the film or show. Do you like them because of their looks or their actions? Can you use anything from that list to make your own cast more unique and stronger?
¹ Star Trek: Picard, Season 1, episode 3, “The End is the Beginning,” (beginning at 20 sec. mark on this video).
Angela Arndt writes women’s fiction with a thread of romance, telling stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations set in small Southern towns. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage her readers to overcome their own “back roads” and find joy in the Lord again. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Agency, Angela has a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina and continues learning the craft of writing fiction through the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Novel Academy. Connect with her at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram