The
Halloween season is upon us. And one of my favorite things about it is the idea
of dressing up as characters. Becoming someone we’re not. This, of course, is
the root of acting.
As
a screenwriter, I realize that I’m creating characters that will be played by
someone else. So how do I give them life so the actor or actress can pick up on their
energy?
Well,
I can take a tip from Halloween: I can wear a mask or hold a prop. If my
character’s a vampire, I can wear fake fangs (from the Dollar Store) to help
feel the character as I write. A toy sword is great for a pirate; a hat can
make me feel like I’m on a safari.
If
I don’t have the exact prop I’m looking for, it’s amazing all the things a
pencil can be: a sword, a gun, a cell phone, a spyglass, a magic wand, an
antenna, a flute, and many more.
It
works for me. Try and see if it’ll work for you. If your character seems to
lack spice, take a lesson from Halloween. Try wearing an article of clothing
your character might wear, putting on a mask, or just grab a prop. Can you feel
your character better? If you can, then you’ve discovered yet another tool to
improve your writing.
Happy Halloween.
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