Okay, so the story takes place in space. There’s a dude, and a mom, and a robot.
Creating a character, and finding their voice
When you have a character in mind, the hope is you are able develop a complex and believable character, whether their surroundings are believable or not. What is the secret to developing believable characters? I guess it would depend on what is important for you (and the character) to accomplish. As a writer, you must know your character in and out. They must become like a real person. (Even if they are animated!)
There are a ton of different ways to “get to know” your characters. A popular method is the “interview”, wherein you have a set of questions based on personal choice, preference, and experience, and you determine how your character would respond to these questions. Or try character speed dating! This would be a discussion with someone on your team, or a collaborator. Have them ask you a set of questions that one would be asked on a date, and you will be surprised what sort of truth will come out your [the characters] mouth.
Let us go through a basic drama / directing class activity. Two steps for developing a character are 1. Physical Description and 2. How the character acts.
1. Physical description of the character
So, for Ostro, he was our hero. Our big shot. We knew he needed to be tall, and strong. He DEFINITELY has an ego, so a strut or a certain pose he does from time-to-time is key.
Evelyn is bad ass, plain and simple. She is older (60+), tough as hell, and has seen a lot of life. We imagined she would not be very tall, perhaps a little short. But what she lacks in height, she makes up in intensity. Small, dark eyes, and an aged face.
KRONIN is an evil sentient computer, who is trying to control the galaxy. I feel he ended up being a silly balance of the Great and Powerful Oz, HAL 9000, and Spongebob. As for how he would appear, it was definitely a process of trial and error. Finding what fit our vision.
2. The character’s words and actions
Ostro is a narcissistic, naive, nincompoop. (Essentially). A lot of his successes have been fabricated by KRONIN, and since Ostro is very gullible, he eats the all the praise right up. Not highly educated, Ostro speaks in a lot of messy metaphors, makes a lot of assumptions, and probably would steal a line from his favourite movie then and again. He has one friend, his trusty robot pal, BIV. Whom he treats like robot droppings.
Whereas, Evelyn is smart. Back in her day, nothing could stop her. She was quick, intelligent, and ready to take on anything. She lead a gang of intergalactic rebels (side note, I imagine primarily a group of badass women such as herself) against the dictatorship controlling her planet and neighbouring planets. Evelyn is articulate, knows what she wants, and will stop at nothing to get it.
KRONIN, well he was a software development gone array. His initial purpose was to unify separate space colonies. But, if SkyNet didn’t teach us anything…the machines always win. KRONIN is power hungry, and he acts like a spoiled brat. He is manipulative, defensive, and will do whatever is necessary to rule the galaxy.
From there… you need to cast! The character development can only go so far. You need to be able to work out any little kinks, character mannerisms and annoyances, and help make them a living, breathing, thing.
