Writer's Block | Character Sketch Outline - The Alpha, Beta and Gamma of creating Characters in Television
We had started this series Writer's Block way back in 2013. Revisit or refer to the series and the pages from a diary of a writer, here, here and here .The diary along with other things that usually get waylaid, had gotten lost and we only unearthed it recently. Here is another about Character Sketch.
Character Sketch Outline
Brief (now why do they call it a brief when they want elaboration?Beats me!)
Character sketch of the male and female protagonist.
Hmmph! How did we pitch it in the story when we did the presentation to the channel? A bit like calling it Love Potion No. 9. A bit of this and little bit of that (now my mind has wandered off to a song with lyrics like these... sweat... that's right Inner Circle, how ironic or is it providence?) I am literally sweating and calling on my inner circle to get this show on the road).
Where is that blessed list?
Yeah, we had given one line or phrase which the channel had basically ticked and crossed. We had only been in knots. One of those days when things between the channel head and us were not as smooth as... well a smoothie!
Back to the list
Male Protagonist
1. Arrogant - Aren't they all, wonder how they become such S.O.Bs!
2. Successful - Again, how did they get there... well it is just that sketchy!
3. Has a Painful past - Don't we all? I remember a time when I was not allowed to play marbles with the boys in the colony. I was reminded I was a girl. Such discrimination. Painful.
4. Confident - Yeah, he has to be able to pin the girl to the wall without provocation. Now that is confidence!
5. Exotic - Now should this happen? He should be attainable to the women audience not a demi-god only to be worshipped from afar. Nah! Scratch exotic, foreign return is more homey.
6. Free spirited - Of course, the entry has to be out of this world so he could be a biker who in his misspent youth could be riding a Harley with leather and glares. How typical. Well, if there were only holier than thou qualities, what would the poor girl do to tame this free-spirit?
7. Artistic - Now is something. Give him a guitar, a paint brush or even a pen and paper, yeah, I shall make him a writer. There is God after all!
Female Protagonist
This one is easy
1. Pretty
2. Pretty
3. Pretty
4. Vulnerable
5. Innocent
6. Sabhya Bhartiya Naari
7. Okay do I really need 7 to counter the male Protagonist's list? Does there have to be equality? Nah. Women are way more superior. (Did I hear someone say sexist?)
Does this sound right?
Just about.
Well, I can always improvise once the casting is done.
Just about sums up my day. Inequality and stereotypical.
But then what can a mere writer do but create a character that the audience wants.
Now, beat that!
Done for the day *wipes hands*
For this post, we used Gorky M's pictures of Harshad Chopda and Shivya Pathania who play the characters of Saahir and Aarzoo in the show Humsafars as representation. For more pictures like these, visit Gorky M's page
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