a lesson on creating characters in a fiction story.

2. VISION
What do you think of the following characters? Do
you remember them? Are they FLAT and boring or
ROUND and dynamic?
Harry Potter Elsa (Frozen)

3. Sadako (The Ring)
Maleficent

4. Edward Cullen (Twilight saga) Tony Stark (Iron Man)

5. SHREK
KOKEY

6. Eya and Cross

7. Concept Catcher
There is no NARRATIVE without characters
Through characters, the viewers begin to feel, relate,
associate, and empathize.
CHARACTERS are the heart and soul of the story.

8. Where do you “get” your characters? Where do they
come from?
Characters can be based on ANBODY YOU LIKE. It
is you who decide who your characters will be. The
most important factor in character development is to
LOVE your character.
By love, it means:
Directing attention to the character
Focusing and centering to his/her world
Noticing every single detail about the character
NEVER MAKE A REPLICA OF YOURSELF!

9. Modifying your Characters
Physical Attributes – name, age, hair color, height,
distinguishing marks, etc.
Personality Traits – habits, mannerisms, quirks,
achievements, likes/dislikes, emotional state,
peculiarities

10. Social Condition – social class, educational
attainment, occupation, family background,
relationship with friends or people in general,
commitments, influences, upbringing, etc.

11. Belief System – personal views/perceptions, religion,
philosophy, superstitions, cultural sentiments, politics,
attitude, disposition, values, etc.
Aspirations – goals, desires, wants and needs,
motivations, driving force, etc. This is what will keep
your character moving.
ASPIRATION + HINDRANCES = TENSION ACTION

12. Character Goal Map
A character goal map gives you an overview of how
the character will reach his/her goal, what problems
or trials s/he will encounter along the way and how
s/he will struggle to overcome them.
External Driving Force – problem presented and
established in the beginning of the story that the
character wants to solve. This is dramatized in the
plot.
Internal Driving Force – is propelled by the external
problem. It is the inner crisis of the character that
s/he wants to solved.

13. Aspirations
Solutions
Hindrances

14. Character Sketch
A character sketch is like a portrait of the character
only in print.
How does s/he look? How does s/he think?
How does s/he act? How does s/he socialize?

15. Character Quadrant 1
It is a cross section of a character’s background. It
gives you the history or the back story of character
and his/her belief system.
Family background Personality traits/likes and dislikes/
peculiar behaviors/mannerisms
Hardships/disappointments Accomplishments

16. Character Quadrant 2
It explores your character’s self in relation to others
(JOHARI WINDOW)
I Know They Know I Know They Don’t
I Don’t Know, They Know I Don’t Know They Don’t

17. Things to Remember in
Developing a Character
1. Anti-Stereotype – there are basically two
types of characters: FLAT and ROUND
FLAT – stays the same from beginning to the
end of the story. They are one dimensional
and boring.
ROUND – They change. They are not
perfect. They are like real people who
commit mistakes, realize it and then change.
They are dynamic and more real.

18. Stereotypes occur when a character is so GOOD and
effective that it becomes and creates an archetype or a
model that makes a character boxed and flat.
2. Exposition – Describe and show how your character
looks like.
3. Actions – Describe how your character was designed to
act.
4. Props – Describe the things that would be useful in
defining the depth of your character.
5. Thoughts – Present your character’s thoughts to the
audience. The thoughts must be manifested through
actions, expressions and dialogues (verbal or non-verbal).

19. 6. Words – What language can s/he speak? Does
s/he have an accent? Does s/he have speech
problem? Is s/he a formal or non-formal speaker?
7. Words/Reactions of Others – How do other
characters see him/her as a person? What do they
say about him/her?
8. Environment – Setting really helps in developing a
character. How this environment influence your
character whether indirectly or directly.

20. In Developing the character,
remember the ff:
1. Just because you created your character, it does
not mean that you know everything about them. Be
open to your characters.
2. Trust and listen to what your character is telling
you.
3. Once you feel that your character can move and
think on its own, it means that you have successfully
fleshed out a character.
4. Never practice “deus ex machina” (the hand of God
is like a machine)

21. Character Map
Lead
Character
Best Friends
Classmates
Supporting Characters
ClassmatesBestFriends
Cora’s Love Interest
Does not like Paolo
for Cora
Likes Ryan for Cora
Cora
Dad Mom
Nancy
Ryan
Leslie
Paolo
Ryan’s Love Interest
Minor Characters

22. Vision Revision
Situation:
Patayin na yung character
na yan! Parating late sa
shoot…
di pa marunong umarte
Si DIREK!
Di natin sya
pwedeng
patayin.
kapag pinatay
natin sya,
wala ng
rason para
maghiganti
yung
bida natin.
…at saka anak
sya ng producer
Si WRITER!

23. Brainstorm
Please watch the trailer of the movie SEX TAPE.
Observe and note the lead character’s actions,
behaviors, quirks, etc.
Group yourselves into threes and fill in the character
sketch, quadrants 1 and 2 of the two major characters
(Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel)
Post the sketch in our VC as a document. One posting
per group.
Watch the full movie on July 18 then try to find out if
the sketch that you were able to create was the same
sketch the writer presented in the story.

24. 24

25. Learning Activity
By this time you must have an approved concept
map. Now prepare a character study for your major or
lead characters by filling in the following forms:
Character Goal Map, Character sketch, Character
quadrants 1 and 2 and then design your character
map.

26. Critic’s Circle
Based on your character sketch, quadrants and goal map,
write a two-to-three paged character study of your lead
character
Follow the following guidelines for evaluating characters:
1. Identify the different roles of the characters and their
significance to each other and to the story.
2. Identify the type of character.
3. Identify if the story is character-driven? If so, is it
centered on just one character or multiple characters? Do
the characters have their “own” story to share?

27. 4. Identify the goal of the character. Is it clear? Is it
realistic to be attained? What is his/her motivation?
Will the character achieve it or not? Is there a reward
or penalty for the character?
5. Is there enough drive for the character to change?
Is there sufficient (story) time for the change to
happen?
6. Are the characters effective? Are they memorable
enough to be remembered? Do they have human
elements to make them real?

28. Reinforcement
Watch a movie with a sequel. Identify the main
character/s then redo its character sketch. Find out if
there is a difference in their character portrayal.
Sample movies with sequel:
Tomb Raider
Ang Tanging Ina (series)
Mission Impossible

29. Next Meeting:
Episode 3: The Place to Be!
Episode 4: Share That Story!

30. Happy Writing!