Character Development

☆ Character Development ☆

The first step in my character development process involves the selection of a fitting name for the protagonist. As a central character within my film opening, her character must reflect elements of femininity and innocence- qualities that are crucial in order to correlate with a genuine 1950s setting. Therefore, her character's name must capture these features. In order to narrow down the name selection, I previously created a list of potential names for her character, as reflected in a past blog post. This list consists of Marianne, Darlene, Charlotte, Pamela, and Beverly which are obtained from some of the popular female names from the 1950s. After some consideration, I chose the name Darlene. Though all of the choices are fitting to the time period in which my opening sets in, certain names tend to display more mature and elegant traits- like Marianne or Charlotte- where the name Darlene is more associated with youthful traits. I also noticed that some of the listed names had stronger associations to blondes rather than brunettes, where the name Darlene was well fit to my actress who is brunette. 

 

Darlene's character consists of a young, naive 17 year old whose innocence is shown through her resistance to be aware of the deception that the conman she is involved with carries. The innocence of her character aids in defining the vulnerable position that she serves within the film opening. Due to Darlene's character's lack of dialogue, the visual elements will serve as representation of her character- more prominently through costuming elements. In reference to color theory, I will use pastel and light hues to demonstrate the innocence and purity of Darlene. Of course, the role of 1950s fashion will be included, in using silhouettes according to these trends as well as light flowy materials. Additionally, another considerable factor within Darlene's visual character development is her body language and facial expressions. Her character's movements and facial expressions will be gentle and light, reflecting those feminine traits. Ultimately, I aim to create Darlene's character into a protagonist who not only matches the visual aesthetic of the opening, but also serves as a captivating center in which the plot unfolds upon. 

Here is a vision board illustrating further the elements of Darlene's character:

☆ Darlene ☆

Digital Synopsis. (2021, January 7). How filmmakers use colors to set the mood of a film. https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/film-movies-color-psychology/