Character Bio & Character Questionaire

CHARACTER BIO:

Objective: Dig deep with a character, discovering background history, personality, psychology, and current goals.

Exercise: Write a detailed description of your main character (1 page only). 

Remember: You are describing a dramatic character, so present him/her to us in a way that is cinematically useful.

Hints: We need to understand their drives, fears, goals, and we’ll have to be able to picture them and hear them. 

SEVEN DAY SCHEDULE: Here, purely as an example, is a seven day template to follow.

DAY 1 - Describe your main character. Do it as if you were telling someone about some very interesting people you met, someone that drives you crazy, someone you think the world of… Imagine being asked, “Why should I be interested in this person?” Share your excitement about him/her?

DAY 2 - Do CHARACTER EXERCISES. How is he/she different from you? What sort of imaginary body does he or she have? Where is the character's imaginary center? 

DAY 3 - Try the body principle with costume, props, or activity. Literally, be the character. Go shopping - at the mall, in the grocery store - as your character. Order a sandwich, not as you would, but as your character would. Maybe you’re lactose intolerant but you end up with a double cheese burger with grilled onions. Go to the Museum of Modern Art as your character. What does your character see or doesn’t see. What did you learn. Take notes after your session. 

DAY 4 - Read the CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE - slowly. You don't have to answer everything. Some things you'll have an answer for immediately. Others will seem irrelevant. But be careful you aren't just avoiding something challenging. What things would you like to know about your character but can't answer? Let your imagination go. Take notes on anything that occurs to you, but don't touch your description. 

DAY 5 - Three things. Describe your main character again, incorporating anything new you've discovered, but don't revise what you wrote the first time. Start anew. Try different CHARACTER EXERCISES. Have fun. After you've finished, ask yourself what your character is after. What does he/she want? What is his/her goal? What would Make it most difficult for him or her to achieve it? 

DAY 6 - Review the CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE. Have any things occurred to you? Look back at your first descriptions. Is a new person beginning to emerge? Different from those you first saw? What interests you most about him/her now? What is his/her strengths? What do you loathe in him/her? Where is she vulnerable? Remember: your character must have weaknesses. Describe him/her again, incorporating the new knowledge gained from the CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE. Once again, start from scratch.

DAY 7 - Review your work. Revise your description (1 PAGE SINGLE SPACED).

Why use a character questionnaire?

A character questionnaire is a great way to get our brains working in new directions. The questions can help us think about aspects of our characters we might not have considered otherwise. They can prompt us to develop new, unique elements of their personality.We can use questions to give us ideas about how we can contrast our characters and create conflict between them. Or they can help us discover details about their home or work life which will enrich our descriptions and make them feel more three dimensional to our readers. 

How to use it?

All tools are only really useful if you use them right. Here are a few do's and dont's to help you get the ost out of this character questionnaire:

Do:

• Start by browsing quickly over all of the questions to get a sense of the sections
• Vary how you use the questionnaire depending on the character
• Pick out the questions that you find work best for you, and use them to create your own personal streamlined questionnaire
• Approach it as a brainstorming exercise
• Allow your mind to go down a rabbit hole, Don't:

• You should already have the broad brushstrokes of your character, including what drives them and their biggest flaw

Basic Character Questions

1.   First name?

2.   Last name?

3.   Middle names?

4.   Nicknames?

5.   Date of birth?

6.   Age?

Physical / Appearance

1.   Height?

2.   Weight?

3.   Build?

4.   Hair color?

5.   Hair style?

6.   Eye color?

7.   Eye Shape?

8.   Glasses or contact lenses?

9.   Distinguishing facial features? 

10.                Which facial feature is most prominent?

11.                Which bodily feature is most prominent?

12.                Other distinguishing features?

13.                Skin?

14.                Hands?

15.                Make up?

16.                Scars?

17.                Birthmarks?

18.                Tattoos?

19.                Physical handicaps?

20.                Type of clothes?

21.                How do they wear their clothes?

22.                What are their feet like? (type of shoes, state of shoes, socks, feet, pristine, dirty, worn, etc)

23.                Race / Ethnicity?

24.                Mannerisms?

25.                Are they in good health?

26.                Do they have any disabilities?

Personality

1.   What words or phrases do they overuse?

2.   Do they have a catchphrase?

3.   Are they more optimistic or pessimistic?

4.   Are they introverted or extroverted?

5.   Do they ever put on airs?

6.   What bad habits do they have?

7.   What makes them laugh out loud?

8.   How do they display affection?

9.   Mental handicaps?

10.                How do they want to be seen by others?

11.                How do they see themselves?

12.                How are they seen by others?

13.                Strongest character trait?

14.                Weakest character trait?

15.                How competitive are they?

16.                Do they make snap judgements or take time to consider?

17.                How do they react to praise?

18.                How do they react to criticism?

19.                What is their greatest fear?

20.                What are their biggest secrets?

21.                What is their philosophy of life?

22.                When was the last time they cried?

23.                What haunts them?

24.                What are their political views?

25.                What will they stand up for?

26.                Who do they quote?

27.                Are they indoorsy or outdoorsy?

28.                What is their sinful little habit?

29.                What sense do they most rely on?

30.                How do they treat people better than them?

31.                How do they treat people worse than them?

32.                What quality do they most value in a friend?

33.                What do they consider an overrated virtue?

34.                If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?

35.                What is their obsession?

36.                What are their pet peeves?

37.                What are their idiosyncrasies?

Friends and Family

1.   Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of?

2.   What is their perception of family?

3.   Do they have siblings? Older or younger?

4.   Describe their best friend.

5.   Ideal best friend?

6.   Describe their other friends.

7.   Describe their acquaintances.

8.   Do they have any pets?

9.   Who are their natural allies?

10.                Who are their surprising allies?

Past and Future

1.   What was your character like as a baby? As a child?

2.   Did they grow up rich or poor?

3.   Did they grow up nurtured or neglected?

4.   What is the most offensive thing they ever said?

5.   What is their greatest achievement?

6.   What was their first kiss like?

7.   What is the worst thing they did to someone they loved?

8.   What are their ambitions?

9.   What advice would they give their younger self?

10.                What smells remind them of their childhood?

11.                What was their childhood ambition?

12.                What is their best childhood memory?

13.                What is their worst childhood memory?

14.                Did they have an imaginary childhood friend?

15.                When was the last time they were crushed with disappointment?

16.                What past act are they most ashamed of?

17.                What past act are they most proud of?

18.                Has anyone ever saved their life?

19.                Strongest childhood memory?

Love

1.   Do they believe in love at first sight?

2.   Are they in a relationship?

3.   How do they behave in a relationship?

4.   Has your character ever been in love?

5.   Have they ever had their heart broken?

Conflict

1.   How do they respond to a threat?

2.   Are they most likely to fight with their fists or their tongue?

3.   What is your character’s kryptonite?

4.   If your character could only save one thing from their burning house, what would it be?

5.   How do they perceive strangers?

6.   What do they love to hate?

7.   What are their phobias?

8.   What is their choice of weapon?

9.   What living person do they most despise?

10.                Have they ever been bullied or teased?

11.                Where do they go when they’re angry?

12.                Who are their enemies and why?

Work, Education and Hobbies

1.   What is their current job?

2.   What do they think about their current job?

3.   What are some of their past jobs?

4.   What are their hobbies?

5.   Educational background?

6.   Intelligence level?

7.   Do they have any specialist training?

8.   Do they have a natural talent for something?

9.   Do they play a sport? Are they any good?

10.                What is their socioeconomic status? 

Favorites

1.   What is their favorite animal?

2.   Which animal to they dislike the most?

3.   What place would they most like to visit?

4.   What is the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen?

5.   What is their favorite song?

6.   Music, art, reading preferred?

7.   What is their favorite colour?

8.   What is their password?

9.   Favorite food:

10.                What is their favorite work of art?

11.                Who is their favorite artist?

12.                What is their favorite day of the week?

Possessions

1.   What is in their fridge:

2.   What is on their bedside table?

3.   What is in their purse or wallet?

4.   What is in their pockets?

5.   What is their most treasured possession?

Spirituality

1.   Who or what is your character’s guardian angel?

2.   Do they believe in the afterlife?

3.   What are their religious views?

4.   What do they think heaven is?

5.   What do they think hell is?

6.   Are they superstitious?

7.   What would they like to be reincarnated as?

8.   How would they like to die?

9.   What is your character’s spirit animal?

10.                What is their zodiac sign?

Values

1.   What do they think is the worst thing that can be done to a person?

2.   What is their view of ‘freedom’?

3.   When did they last lie?

4.   What’s their view of lying?

5.   When did they last make a promise?

6.   Did they keep or break their last promise?

Daily life

1.   What are their eating habits?

2.   Do they have any allergies?

3.   Describe their home.

4.   Are they minimalist or a clutter hoarder?

5.   What do they do first thing on a weekday morning?

6.   What do they do on a Sunday afternoon?

7.   What do they do on a Friday night?

8.   What is the soft drink of choice?

9.   What is their alcoholic drink of choice?

Miscellaneous

1.   Who is their hero?

2.   If they could save one person, who would it be?

3.   If they could call one person for help, who would it be?

4.   What is their greatest extravagance?

5.   What is their greatest regret?

6.   What is their perception of redemption?

7.   What would they do if they won money?

8.   Do they believe in happy endings?

9.   What is their idea of perfect happiness?

10.                What would they ask a fortune teller?

11.                If your character could travel through time, where would they go?

12.                What sport do they excel at?

13.                What sport do they suck at?

14.                If they could have a superpower, what would they choose?