How to use a character with two names.

Deepspirit · Oct 23, 2009

I'm sure I once saw a thread similar to this but now I can't find it so please help me out.

In my script, I have character. His real name is 'JACOB' but for some reason, he goes with a fake identity and is known as 'MARK' to everyone (until the climax). Now when I write about him, specially in the Character tags before the dialogs, should I use his real name or the fake one? For example, which of the following is correct?

A. JACOB
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

B. MARK
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

Because the other characters know him as MARK, the first option looks a bit odd (or is it the right way?). On the other hand, if I use the second option, it feels strange to use JACOB again in the action descriptions that follow the dialogs.

Thanks

dpaterso · Oct 23, 2009

I'd maybe clarify who Someone is talking to:

JACOB
Blah blah blah

SOMEONE
(to Jacob)
Hello, Mark.

...but keep calling Jacob, JACOB

-Derek

Deepspirit · Oct 23, 2009

Thanks a lot, Derek

icerose · Oct 24, 2009

The point of it all is clarity. Whatever you have to do to achieve clarity is vitally important.

From Batman (1989) when Jack turns into the Joker here's the scene:

Code:

JACK
	Jack?  Jack's dead, my friend.
	You can call me Joker.

He flings away the hat.  RIPS THE MUFFLER from his face.
And -- as Grissom gasps in shock -- stands revealed in
his full horrendous glory.

His flesh is bleached bone-white.  His hair is a luminous
seaweed-green.  And his cheeks are torn and puckered from
the bullet wound, TWISTING HIS MOUTH INTO A HIDEOUS,
PERPETUAL HARLEQUIN'S GRIN.

		JACK
	And as you can see, I'm much
	happier.

Jack begins to GIGGLE, building to hysterical LAUGHTER.
Grissom makes a lunge towards his desk drawer.  Jack
FIRES.  AND FIRES AGAIN UNTIL THE CLIP IS EMPTY.

EXT. GRISSOM'S BUILDING - NIGHT

We TILT UP the facade of the skyscraper, arriving finally
at the TOP FLOOR:  a PLATE GLASS WINDOW spiderwebbed with
cracks where Jack's bullets hit.

INT. GRISSOM'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (THAT MOMENT)

Darkness.  JACK -- or, as we'll know him from this moment
on, The JOKER -- sits in Grissom's swivel chair and
surveys the moon-drenched city.

		JOKER
		(nostalgically)
	Gotham City.  It always brings
	a smile to my face.

As he swivels in the chair he notices a copy of the Globe
(now blood-splattered) lying on Grissom's desk.  The head-
line catches his eye.  WINGED FREAK TERRORIZES GOTHAM'S
GANGLAND.  He picks up the paper and starts HUMMING.

		JOKER
	Watch it, Batman.  Wait'll they
	get a load of me.

						DISSOLVE TO:

Here's the link. Since it has plenty of dual identities I thought it would be a good example along with the others of course.

http://sfy.ru/sfy.html?script=batman_production

Now this is a shooting script, but it still gives a very good idea on how to handle it. They also separate Bruce Wayne and Batman as different characters by name.

Another way I have seen it is to use your example. JACOB AKA MARK or JACOB playing an undercover mobster named MARK.

The point is make it very clear. Make the transitions between characters easy to follow. If Mark is the name that dominates the screen, you might want to go with Mark instead.

nmstevens · Oct 24, 2009

Deepspirit said:
I'm sure I once saw a thread similar to this but now I can't find it so please help me out.

In my script, I have character. His real name is 'JACOB' but for some reason, he goes with a fake identity and is known as 'MARK' to everyone (until the climax). Now when I write about him, specially in the Character tags before the dialogs, should I use his real name or the fake one? For example, which of the following is correct?

A. JACOB
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

B. MARK
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

Because the other characters know him as MARK, the first option looks a bit odd (or is it the right way?). On the other hand, if I use the second option, it feels strange to use JACOB again in the action descriptions that follow the dialogs.

Thanks

What you want to remember is that the experience of reading the script should approximate the experience of watching the movie - which means that if a character is known as Mark to everybody throughout the movie and is revealed to be Jacob at the end -- well then - you should call him Mark until everybody finds out (or at any rate, until the *audience* finds out that he's Jacob -- then make the change -- and then call him Jacob from that point on).

I mean, think about it this way.

INT. BATES MOTEL SHOWER - NIGHT

Miriam is taking a shower. Unnotices, a shadowy figure approaches behind the shower curtain. Abruptly, the curtain is pulled aside, revealing Norman, disguised as his mother, though we don't know this at the time, because he's in silhouette, holding a great big knife.

Kind of gives things away a bit -- doesn't it?

You don't want to give things away to the reader. You want them to experience the story the way an audience member does.

NMS

Lady Ice · Oct 24, 2009

I'd call him Mark until his identity is revealed. If he says anything after that point, call him Jacob but mention that he is referred to in the script as Jacob from this point on.

Stijn Hommes · Oct 24, 2009

Last time I came across a situation like this, the revelation was made in the description. After that, the revealed identity was used. Just make sure it's not confusing to whoever reads it.

Deepspirit · Oct 24, 2009

Thanks a lot for all these valuable suggestions. I understand that the point here is to make things clear to the reader while keeping the audience experience in mind.

Thanks again

STKlingaman · Oct 24, 2009

Well if it's a script, just make sure
the person and director know who
Jacob/Mark is.
Or just write it as Jacob/Mark
throughout the script.

Judsia · Oct 25, 2009

Deepspirit said:
I'm sure I once saw a thread similar to this but now I can't find it so please help me out.

In my script, I have character. His real name is 'JACOB' but for some reason, he goes with a fake identity and is known as 'MARK' to everyone (until the climax). Now when I write about him, specially in the Character tags before the dialogs, should I use his real name or the fake one? For example, which of the following is correct?

A. JACOB
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

B. MARK
Blah blah blah
SOMEONE
Hello, Mark.

Because the other characters know him as MARK, the first option looks a bit odd (or is it the right way?). On the other hand, if I use the second option, it feels strange to use JACOB again in the action descriptions that follow the dialogs.

Thanks

I had this happen with one of my scripts - my MC went by three names. The way I wrote it was this way: when I first introduced him by one of the names, I indicated it in the description. Afterwards, because he flipflopped between the names (sometimes within the same scene), I used that name that everyone assumed they were talking to. For example, let's say my MC, whose real name is Chris, is at a dinner party. Everyone knows him as Chris, except once person from his past (JUSTIN) - and for whatever reason, who believes his name is Brian. Everyone converses with Chris as "CHRIS", but when Justin converses with him, he addresses him as "BRIAN", and Chris now responds as "BRIAN".

I think I may have convoluted that...not sure.

Because my MC has 3 different identities, I made sure his dialogue fit with that personality he was portraying at the time. There has to be some reason these characters have alter-egoes; their personalities have to reflect the persona they are trying to pass off.

I don't know if any of this made sense....I'm in a cold pill induced euphoria at the moment..... :/

Deepspirit · Oct 26, 2009

Thanks again

How to use a character with two names.

Deepspirit

dpaterso

Patent pending

Deepspirit

icerose

Lost in School Work

nmstevens

What happened?

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Deepspirit

STKlingaman

Followed the Red Brick Road

Judsia

Deepspirit