Strong characters - characters we love and hate, those we despair for at their low moments and egg on to their triumphs - are the foundation of any successful script. Written by award-winning writer Rib Davis and now fully updated for its second edition, Creating Compelling Characters for Film, TV, Theatre and Radio is an authoritative practical guide to developing characters for professional and aspiring writers alike.As well as exploring character motivation, the interplay between character and plot, comic characters, heroes and villains, the new edition also includes a more in-depth look at character psychology, writing ensemble and multi-narrative dramas and the balance between character development and character revelation. The book also includes a wide range of contemporary examples from scripts ranging from films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and The Grand Budapest Hotel, award-winning plays such as Jerusalem and acclaimed TV shows such as Game of Thrones and True Detective.

Includes new case studies from The Wolf of Wall Street, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Game of Thrones

IntroductionPart 1: Notes on Creating a Character1. Roots of a Character2. Birth Marks3. Learning Through Experience4. The Character NowPart 2: Character Within Script5. Character Motivation and the Plot6. The Emotional Journey7. The Emotional Journey: Case Study8. Description and Self-Description9. Heroes and Villains10. Secondary and Minor Characters11. The Comic Character12. Leaving Your CharactersIndex