THE
CHARACTER
"True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure."
The Mask
Characterization
Characterization is the sum of all observable qualities. It is a combination of appearance, mannerisms, style, age, IQ, profession, personality, and values. It is who the person seems to be.
- Appearance & Style
- Age & Gender
- Profession & IQ
The Truth
True Character
True Character waits behind the mask. It is the essential nature of the person, which can only be expressed through choice in dilemma. Who are they when everything is at stake?
- Moral Courage
- Deepest Desires
- The Will to Act
Composed
"Pressure strips away the mask."
THE ARC OF CHANGE
1. The Setup
We see the character's mask. We think we know who they are based on their characterization.
2. The Pressure
Life deals a blow. The character faces a dilemma where they must choose between two irreconcilable goods or two unavoidable evils.
3. The Revelation
The choice is made. The mask cracks. The true nature is revealed to the audience—and often to the character themselves.
THE PARADOX OF SELF
Dimension means contradiction. Consistent characters are boring. Fascinating characters are those who hold opposing traits in tension. A cruel doctor. A charming thief. A fearful hero.
These contradictions are not accidents; they are the engine of depth. They force the audience to lean in, trying to resolve the paradox.
CAST DESIGN
Characters are not designed in isolation. They are parts of a solar system, orbiting the protagonist to illuminate different facets of the theme.
The Principle of Antagonism
A protagonist is only as compelling as the forces of antagonism make them. They define each other.
Film: Casablanca (1942)
Characterization (The Mask)
A cynical American saloon keeper in Morocco. He drinks alone. He plays chess alone. He claims total neutrality.
"I stick my neck out for nobody."
The Pressure
Ilsa returns. The Nazis arrive. He possesses the letters of transit. He must choose between his love for Ilsa and the cause she fights for.
True Character
Under extreme pressure, the mask dissolves. He sacrifices his love for the greater good. He is not a cynic; he is a sentimentalist and a patriot.
"Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win."