How to Introduce and Describe a Character in a Screenplay
- 1). Introduce a character by placing the name in all caps on the first appearance in the script. Example: "DAN enters the room and sits beside the window." In every scene after this one, Dan will be typed normally.
- 2). Introduce characters by the name they will use throughout the movie. It's preferable to use a character's first and last name, even when the first name will be the name used throughout. All main characters should have a first and last name. Supporting characters may only have a first name. For minor characters, it's acceptable to use a descriptive phrase for the character name, such as NERDY COP or ANGRY CUSTOMER. Avoid using character cues such as SOLDIER #1 and SOLDIER #2. These tags don't give much insight into character appearance. It's better to write FAT SOLDIER and GRUMPY SOLDIER. Be descriptive with minor character cues that aren't proper names.
- 3). Follow your initial character introduction with a brief character description written in sentence case. Avoid laundry list physical descriptions and precise hair and eye color (unless it's integral to the story). Here's a bad example: "MARCIA enters the room. She's five foot six and weighs one hundred ninety pounds. Her eyes are blue. She's got high cheek bones and long fingernails. There's a tattoo of a rose on her right shoulder." That description breaks readers away from the story and also limits the actresses that can play the role. This is a better example: "Marcia, 20s, tall and sleek, with a rose tattoo on her shoulder, enters the room." Always include a character's general age (20s or late 20s, rather than 29) and one or two defining details. This is the one place you can break the rule about only writing what you can see or hear on screen. You can say that Marcia is a woman who's been around. The movie viewers will eventually see that on the screen by her actions.
- 4). Avoid suggesting actors or actresses who can play the role of a character in your screenplay. Don't introduce a character like this: "DAN, a BRUCE WILLIS type . . ." That will make your script look bad. It will make you look like a lazy writer. Besides, Bruce Willis has played many roles.
Source...