Hi Reader,

Happy Friday! Let’s talk about something that seems small at first glance, but can make a big difference in how your screenplay reads: character introductions.

I’ve done coverage on several scripts lately, and this has been one of the most common weak points. A major character shows up for the first time, and their introduction is something like: "Jane, 25, a young woman in a t-shirt and jeans."

And that’s it.

No sense of personality or energy. No clue as to what kind of person this is. Nothing that makes them feel specific or memorable.

Just age, gender, and generic clothing. That’s a big problem.

Luckily, there's a solution!

Lack of characterization

One client even told me he had been instructed to keep descriptions as generic as possible so he wouldn’t "do the casting director’s work for them."

Honestly, I was floored. That so-called advice completely misses the point.

You are not trying to cast the role in the script. You are trying to introduce a human being in a way that makes the reader feel like they’ve actually met someone real.

And that usually has much more to do with personality, energy, attitude, rhythm, and behavior… than it does with jeans and a t-shirt.

Why this happens

A lot of newer writers default to generic physical description because they don’t really know the character yet.

The plot comes first, the person comes second. And now the character intro is acting as a placeholder that never gets upgraded.

That’s why so many characters start feeling interchangeable.

If all you know about someone is their age, their gender, and what they’re wearing, then chances are the character still hasn’t fully come alive for you as the writer.

And if they’re not alive for you, they won’t feel alive for the reader either.

A better way to think about it

I always think of character introductions like a blind date. If you met this person for the first time, what would you notice before they ever told you their life story?

How do they carry themselves?
Do they avoid eye contact?
Do they own the room?
Do they scan for exits?
Do they talk too fast?
Do they seem guarded, nervous, arrogant, warm, exhausted?

The way people behave, especially in specific situations, tells us so much more about them than generic filler. So lean into it in your writing.

The real goal

The better you know your character’s inner workings, the clearer the picture you can paint for your reader. And that has a huge effect on the script (or novel or short story).

Because now the character feels specific, authentic, and worth paying attention to. And that's the goal - making the audience care enough to keep reading!

That’s the difference between a person and a placeholder.

🎥 Watch the full video here: 5 Ways to Make Character Introductions POP!​

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And if you want help with your screenplay - character work, dialogue, pacing, structure, or figuring out why your script isn’t landing the way it should - I can help with that too.:

👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!​

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👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!​

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Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!

Neil

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P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

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