Boring Characters Is Not a Depth or Backstory Issue

One of the most common notes that I find myself giving in my consultancy work with screenplays is that the characters need to be looked at more. Whether they lack individuality, arcs, backstory, what have you. Making a properly fleshed-out character that a reader or a future viewer cares about is one of screenwriting’s greatest challenges. And the best solutions aren’t what you might think.

Let’s talk about some points that Big Red Stripe on YouTube brings up in their video on the subject, as well as my personal two cents.

Know the Difference Between a Symptom and an Actual Issue

A lot of times what people assume are the issues with their or someone else’s screenplays aren’t actually the issue at all. They may be a symptom contributing to a larger problem, but the point on its own isn’t the inherent issue.

A big example I like to use is predictability. Predictability on its own is not a dealbreaker issue with a script. We have been telling the exact same stories with the exact same characters and structures for thousands of years, and we’re still moved by them a lot, even when we can guess what’s about to happen. If you start to notice and be annoyed by being able to guess where a story is going, it’s far more likely to be caused by an issue with characters, pacing, or a potential lack of voice. This point stands with boring characters.

What Actually Makes a Character Boring?

‘Magnolia’Credit: New Line Cinema

A common and understandable response that a writer tends to have when told that their characters might be boring is that they jump to add more backstory, depth, or *gasp* tragic childhood events long buried to try and make them more interesting to read. This is in actuality just putting a band-aid on a deep cut wound that likely needs stitches.

…