In the context of character development in a film, "internal" and "external" character traits refer to different facets of the character that contribute to their overall portrayal and development.
NOTE: The difference between character "features" and "qualities" lies in their focus: Character Features refer to physical appearance or external traits that can be observed. Character Qualities refer to the internal, personality traits that define a character's behavior, mindset, and values.
1. EXTERNAL FEATURES of a character REVEAL Character
The external features of a character, such as their appearance, behavior, actions, and interactions with others, are crucial for creating a visually compelling and dynamic character that can effectively convey the story and engage the audience. These observable traits and actions, including clothing, hairstyle, body language, and facial expressions, provide visual cues that help to convey the character's personality, mood, and intentions.
Understanding the exterior features of a character is important for creating a well-rounded and believable character that the audience can connect with and empathize with. These external traits can also evolve throughout the story, reflecting the character's internal changes and growth, adding another layer of depth and realism to their portrayal.
2. INTERNAL QUALITIES of a character FORM character
The internal qualities of a character, such as their thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and motivations, are crucial for creating a well-rounded and believable character that the audience can connect with and empathize with. These internal components shape the character's personality and drive their actions and decisions.
Understanding the internal components of a character provides depth and complexity, making them more relatable and engaging to the audience. Internal conflicts, fears, and desires further enrich the character, allowing for growth and development throughout the story. By examining these qualities, writers and actors can create authentic and compelling characters that connect with viewers on a profound level.
3. Internal and External traits create believable characters.
Internal qualities, such as thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and motivations, provide depth and complexity, making characters more relatable and engaging for the audience. External features, such as appearance, behavior, actions, and interactions, provide visual cues that convey the character's personality and emotions, helping to establish their role in the story and their relationships with other characters.
Together, these “Character Traits” create a fully realized and engaging character that can drive the story forward and connect with the audience. This holistic approach ensures that characters are multidimensional, allowing for growth and development that work on both an emotional and visual level.
By integrating both internal and external traits, writers and directors can create characters that are not only compelling and realistic but also integral to the story’s progression and thematic depth.
NEXT ARTICLE: Character Personality Traits (Internal and External) (pt1)
Do you map out internal qualities vs external features when outlining? Or do you have a separate character sheet?
Hi Geoffrey. I usually do very detailed character breakdown sheets for the top 3-5 characters. For the rest, I will create a simplified version. :)