how to come up with good characters in a story? this presentation will guide you.

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

3. Sadako (The Ring)

4. Edward Cullen (Twilight saga)
Flavio (Panday)

5. SHREK
KOKEY

6. Elsa (Himala)
JOSIE (ANAK)

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. Solutions
Aspirations
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 act?
How does s/he think?
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
Hardships/disappointments
Personality traits/likes and dislikes/
peculiar behaviors/mannerisms
Accomplishments

16. Character Quadrant 2
It explores your character’s self in relation to
others (JOHARI WINDOW)
I Know They Know
I Don’t Know, They Know
I Know They Don’t
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
Minor Characters
Dad
Supporting Characters
Mom
Paolo
Cora
Best Friends
Nancy
Classmates
Lead
Character
Likes Ryan for Cora
Leslie
Best Friends
Does not like Paolo
for Cora
Classmates
Cora’s Love Interest
Ryan
Ryan’s Love Interest

22. Vision Revision
…at saka
anak sya ng
producer
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.
Si WRITER!

23. Brainstorm
Please watch the Opening Scene of the movie
NO OTHER WOMAN. Observe and note the lead
character’s actions, behaviors, quirks, etc.
Group yourselves into threes and fill in the
character sketch of KARA (Anne Curtis)
Watch the full movie then try to find out if the
sketch that you wee able to create was the same
sketch the writer presented in the story.

24. 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.
Do the same for the lead characters in the
Amapola book!

25. 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?

26. 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?

27. 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

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

29. Happy Writing!