Character Development
Character Development is a key skill in storytelling where writers create believable and engaging personalities for movies, TV shows, or other media projects. It's like building a detailed blueprint of a person - their history, motivations, flaws, and growth throughout the story. Writers who are good at character development know how to make audiences care about the people in their stories. This skill is essential in screenwriting, television writing, and other forms of storytelling, similar to how plot development or dialogue writing are fundamental writing skills.
Examples in Resumes
Created compelling Character Development arcs for main characters in a 10-episode series
Led Character Development workshops for writing team members
Implemented strong Character Development techniques that resulted in positive audience feedback
Typical job title: "Character Development Writers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Character Development Writers
Professional Organizations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach developing characters for a long-running TV series versus a feature film?
Expected Answer: Should discuss the differences in character arcs across different formats, how to maintain character consistency while allowing growth, and planning character development across multiple episodes or seasons versus a single story.
Q: How do you handle feedback from producers or executives about major character changes?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in collaborating with stakeholders, balancing creative vision with commercial needs, and ability to adapt character development while maintaining story integrity.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure your characters remain consistent throughout a story?
Expected Answer: Should explain their process for tracking character traits, maintaining character bibles or documentation, and ensuring character actions align with established personalities.
Q: Can you describe how you develop a character's arc throughout a story?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain how they plan character growth, create meaningful conflicts, and structure character development to align with plot points.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the essential elements of a well-developed character?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic character elements like backstory, motivations, goals, flaws, and personality traits that make characters relatable and interesting.
Q: How do you research and develop characters different from your own experience?
Expected Answer: Should discuss research methods, interviewing people, reading relevant materials, and ensuring authentic representation.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic character creation techniques
- Understanding of character arcs
- Writing character descriptions
- Research skills for character authenticity
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex character relationship development
- Character arc planning for series
- Script revision and character consistency
- Collaboration with creative teams
Senior (5+ years)
- Multiple character arc management
- Show development leadership
- Character bible creation
- Mentoring junior writers
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic character development principles
- No understanding of character arcs
- Lack of writing samples or portfolio
- No knowledge of story structure
- Poor collaboration skills
Related Terms
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