Character Background
Character Background is a crucial part of storytelling that outlines a fictional character's history, personality, and life experiences before the main story begins. Think of it as a detailed personal history that writers create to make their characters feel real and believable. When screenwriters mention this on their resumes, they're showing they know how to develop rich, complex characters that audiences can connect with. Similar terms include "character development," "character bible," or "character history." This skill is essential in movies, TV shows, video games, and other forms of entertainment where strong characters drive the story.
Examples in Resumes
Created detailed Character Background profiles for main cast in award-winning TV series
Developed Character Backgrounds and story arcs for ensemble cast of 12 characters
Wrote comprehensive Character Background documents for video game NPCs
Typical job title: "Screenwriters"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Screenwriters
Online Communities
Job Boards
Events & Conferences
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach creating character backgrounds for an ensemble cast where multiple characters need to interact meaningfully?
Expected Answer: A senior writer should explain their process for developing interconnected character histories, ensuring each character has unique traits while maintaining believable relationships and avoiding contradictions in their shared histories.
Q: How do you ensure character backgrounds contribute to the overall story without overwhelming it?
Expected Answer: They should discuss how to balance revealing background information naturally through dialogue and action, avoiding information dumps, and selecting only the most relevant details that drive the story forward.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use character background to influence a character's decisions in the story?
Expected Answer: Should explain how past experiences shape a character's choices and reactions, providing examples of how background details can create believable character motivations.
Q: What methods do you use to document and track character backgrounds?
Expected Answer: Should describe organizational systems for maintaining character information, including tools or templates they use to keep track of details and ensure consistency.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What essential elements do you include when creating a character background?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic elements like family history, education, key life events, personality traits, and how these elements help shape the character.
Q: How do you research to create authentic character backgrounds?
Expected Answer: Should discuss using various resources like interviews, books, or online research to create realistic and believable character histories.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic character profile creation
- Understanding of character motivation
- Research techniques
- Simple character development
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex character relationship development
- Character arc planning
- Background integration into stories
- Character consistency maintenance
Senior (5+ years)
- Ensemble cast development
- Character background consultation
- Multi-season character planning
- Mentoring junior writers
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain how character backgrounds influence story decisions
- No understanding of character consistency
- Lack of research skills for creating authentic backgrounds
- Poor grasp of how to reveal background information naturally in a story
Related Terms
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