Character Biographies

I consider character biographies part of a movie's backstory. They are the characters' personal contributions to backstory.

What is a character biography?

It's easy. You have a biography. You were born at a certain place, at a certain time. You grew up in a certain environment, went to schools, may be college. You worked or didn't, whatever. The sum of everything you did and everything that happened to you - that's your biography.

To a significant part you are a result of your past. I don't say that's all that defines you, but definitely our past - that includes the way we look at the world - strongly influences our actions and our aspirations of the future.

It's the same with the characters of your movies. Okay, they are invented. They will only be relevant for the length of the movie. And all in all - even the main characters will be seen for incredibly few minutes of screen time. So, why give them an education, parents, brothers and sisters, hobbies, a social environment, a driving record, a life insurance if that never shows up in the script?

Answer: these back issues may not be relevant for the script, but your characters are and they are a result of their biography. So, if the character is relevant, give him/her a biography. (Of course, that checkout clerk in the supermarket that only shows up in one scene doesn't need one.) What I said about backstory applies here. too: Most of it will never be told in the movie, but it will define your characters' behavior, their actions and their words.

For example, a character that is well educated, works in an executive position and is respected for his contribution to society will probably not habitually use foul language to express dissatisfaction. And if he does exhibit unusual behavior, there should be a good reason for it. And that reason would be part of the character's biography.

If you are fully aware who your fictional character is, it is likely that you give him a behavior and a language that fits that fictional background and as a result is consistent over the length of the script. Before his dialog will sound strange to the reader of a script, it will sound strange to you. As a result your characters will be solid, consistent, believable from the past.

That said, in the next few posts I'll give the fictional characters in the opening scene a character biography.