Question about introducing characters

dminor · Dec 24, 2005

Hello everyone, ready to put my first screenplay on the page, so this is probably my first of many questions.

Anyway, In my story there are two semi-main characters that are at the very beginning of the movie in skimasks (their robbers), then these characters are not shown again for a while in the movie. I dont want the audience to know who these people are when they are first introduced, but of course later in the movie it will be obvious they were the robbers.

So my question is, when i write their dialogue and such in the beginning do i just write like "robber#1" and "robber#2"? and then when i re-introduce them, include in the script that these were the robbers? or should i introduce them with their names ("miles" and "percy")

Many thanks in advance for any help!

dpaterso · Dec 24, 2005

That's how I'd do it. The script reader should find out who these guys are at the same time as the cinema audience.

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scripter1 · Jan 3, 2006

I would suggest

something a little more specfic.

Fat and Thin robber
or
Deep Voice and Squeaky,
Ballastic and Calm,
etc depending on the genre.

something that reveals a bit of character and is a solid identifier for when we see them again. You want us to instantly know which one was which.

Remember, the AUDIENCE won't have the script to give them clues. Everything has got to come from what can be seen and heard.

{I know it's an old post put it's the only one so far I've felt like responding to.}

Question about introducing characters

dminor

dpaterso

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scripter1

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