Just had a pleasant 2nd draft review. I review early so I can make changes.
Curious criticism: Character names were too ordinary.
I did not go full porn and have Rock Hard or Bambi BadGirl as character names, although my own introvert self may be keeping me from the ‘hot’ names.Is there a better character name than Mr. Smith in The Matrix?
Should I name the protagonists after weapons, the ‘bad guys’ after venomous animals?I am being a bit facetious here, I will have to step up my naming choices.
Jim Sharp, Peter Granite, Sylvia Silver, Fiona Fire, comes to mind.
To me it seems like padding a resume.
1 person likes this
I don’t know the situation. But no one is Really named strange things.
However there is versions that feel different.
Sara feels younger than Sarah.
Joanne is more formal the Jo.
Think about how names feel. I have a new script about some drug-f#%ked individuals. They are Chrissy, Donnie, Abby there is a theme to their names. There is a straight laced friend Janet.
The names may get changed as we move towards production. I just wanted silly trivial names for the group.
1 person likes this
I agree with Craig. For me, the names just resonate as you think of it. It's like you hear the name and it just fits to the particular character and their traits. If the name doesn't sound like a match, then it probably isn't. The good thing is, there is an endless list of names to rotate throughout to find the one that rings :)
1 person likes this
It’s part of the language of storytelling. Names tell us what to or not to expect from a character, and we as writers can amplify or subvert those expectations. Definitely not an afterthought.
1 person likes this
I do think a character's name needs to reflect their personality but most important for me is that it has to flow and sound natural to my ear and be something that's fun to say. For example in my current project my main characters are Bonnie Harper, a struggling actress and William Roman Greyson, a seasoned deep method actor.
1 person likes this
Yeah, names are a big deal. George Lucas invented names like Skywalker, Solo, Obi-Wan, Leia, Darth Vader. The Wachowski Siblings named their leads - Neo, Morpheus, Trinity.
Box office sales will say you're either a genius or a donkey.
Darth Vader must come from Dark Vater (Father in German). German bad father.
Can't remember who first mentioned it. I think it was in a screenwriting book somewhere? But Cemeteries are a good source of names.
I use international characters in my stories (Italian lead, Russian sidekick, etc.) and I choose names that I have not used before, names which are popular or at least consistent with the character's home culture and fit their personalities reasonably well.
2 people like this
I try to match names to my character's personalities, at least in my mind. In my current project, I have two park rangers, one named Flynn who is laidback and unflappable and the other is a new enthusiastic trainee named Parker, who was named by her grandfather who loved the outdoors/parks. To me, it fit. My head ranger is named Bruce because I honestly pictured him like Bruce Campbell.
Peter, to me there's nothing wrong with your naming choices!
I always try to keep the name simple.
1 person likes this
Just looking at the names above mine gives me the shivers.....Roach Peters....Stefano Two-Fingers Pavone....Krista Kore....Crawford Josephs....Boston James....Gunner Guardino.....I'm getting the fudge out of here while I still can.....
Two Fingers? Where did you get that from!?
1 person likes this
Danny the Digger MaxXx told me that was the name of the guy shaking down the East Coast script consultants. OMG...I hope that's not you!
What the smeg are you talking about? I don't know anything about shakedowns.
2 people like this
I would simply call every male character Snake Plissken, and every female character Ellen (rip you apart) Ripley.... No, I would'nt, and I try to explain why...
Let me start with saying the use of the name "Smith" is not bad. Smith is a very common name, almost boringly common. There are a lot of Smith in this world. As there are a lot of Smith (like machines/hups) in the Matrix.
A character name should not automatically be badass (although I like badass names), it simply should fit the character. IT SCHOULD BE FUNCTIONAL,
Example from "The Final Solution" . Logline: "After an SS officer's family accidentally is sent to a Nazi death camp he must save them before the commandant dismantles the camp and kills all inmates."
EXT. SORTING YARD - AFTERNOON
Ludwig stands on the top of a pyramid of clothing, an
accumulation of Treblinka’s prisoners, it’s two-stories tall.
He can see all of the camp from his perch.
Down below prisoners are sorting through clothes, making
piles for pants, jackets, shoes, etc. In concert they must
sing the Treblinka anthem.
From atop of the pile of rags, Ludwig conducts his arms as if
the music were his own symphony. Ukrainian’s stroll through
the prisoners, making sure they are singing too.
TREBLINKA PRISONERS
(singing)
The tramp of the workers is heard,
Their faces are set and grave,
Their columns leave for work,
always faithful and brave. This is
why we are in Treblinka, whatever
fate may send, this is why we are
in Treblinka, always ready for the
end. When the voice of our master
thunders, and when he seems to look
our way, we form columns and stand
waiting, always ready to obey. Work
is our existence, we must obey or
die. We do not want to leave… til’
destiny winks its eye!
A Ukrainian pulls a prisoner out of the sorting line. Ludwig
notices, at his side is a German Shepard, Barry. He pulls on
the collar.
LUDWIG: Look, Barry! That man isn’t singing.
He releases the collar and Barry charges down the slope of
clothes. The Ukrainian steps aside and Barry bites the
prisoner’s groin. He screams as Barry tugs and tears.
The Ukrainian and nearby German soldiers laugh.
LUDWIG (CONT’D): Now he is singing!
Ludwig WHISTLES and Barry releases his jaw, the prisoner
drops to his knees, bleeding.
Barry runs back up the pyramid, panting as blood drips from
his tongue. Ludwig shoulders a rifle, takes aim at the
prisoner, and shoots him dead.
The Treblinka Anthem is still in harmony. Ludwig pets Barry’s
head.
He sees underneath Barry’s paw is a familiar piece of fabric.
Ludwig pulls on a sleeve from the pile and holds up the
wrinkled article of clothing. It’s an SS Officer’s grey
jacket, Baldewin’s.
He drops it back in the pile and makes his way down the
slope.
LUDWIG (CONT’D): Come, Barry. Treblinka can not
always be fun. We have announcements to make.
----------------------
Ludwig Harman = (in real life) Kurt Franz ; yes nazi's most popular clasical composer is Ludwig van Beethoven.
Barry, the dog, for has a name of a human character drinking a beer in "Cheers". But he's the opposite of laid back, he's inhuman, atleast when Ludwig is arround.
Baldewin (Brandt)), or better said "Baldwin" or Balduin is an Old German and Anglo-Saxon surname. It may either derive from Bealdwine, or the Old German equivalent Baldavin, meaning "brave, bold friend".
It is found in many other modern European languages: French Beaudoin or Baudouin, Italian Baldovino, Dutch Boudewijn, Icelandic Baldvin, Spanish and Esperanto Balduino.
Eleonore Brand (Baldewin's wife); the meaning of the name Eleonore is: Shining light.
These nazi monsters do not have to rinven them selves to become (more) human, but there names already tell us they wil change.Stil arriving in Treblinka they become a number as all inmates, in some way even dirigent Ludwig and his henchmen.
Not in this scene:
Berrin (9), youngest son of Baldewin and Eleonora. a shy boy with a good hart. Adores his daring brother. Barrin means "gift of God. He's taken to the "hospital" by arrival and shot. The Technicians see him as a "useless eater' and there's no place for a gift of God in Hell.
Explained like this:
ALVIE: It’ll be okay Berrin. Mom and dad
will come get us!
The Ukrainian shoves Alvie out the door and it closes behind
them.
Berrin’s big eyes are brimming with tears. He looks at the
doctor for comfort.
BERRIN: Can I go with my brother, please?
The doctor is emotionally cutoff, he does not answer.
BERRIN (CONT’D): Do you like me?
The doctor cannot look the boy in his eyes.
BERRIN (desperate): Am I your friend?
Berrin’s lip starts to shake. The doctor motions for another
Ukrainian guard over.
JEWISH DOCTOR: Take this one to the field.
Berrin is grabbed by the arm and pulled off the medical bed
and lead to a back door. Berrin looks over his shoulder at
the doctor and he has his back turned to him. Once Berrin has
left the hospital and the DOOR SHUTS. The doctor let’s the
tears roll from his eyes.
EXT. HOSPITAL DITCH - CONTINUOUS
The Ukrainian guard walks Berrin to the edge of a huge pit, ...
----------------------
... and
Alvie (11), oldest son of Baldewin and Eleonora. Alvie meaning "elf or magical being, friend". Alvie (in our story) is only family member to survive the Treblinka revolt of 2 august 1943.
Of the the six hundred escapees, there remained, on the arrival of the Red Army a year later, only 69 inmates survived. So you need friends you can trust to set up the escape and more than magic to survive!
Stefano: Sorry....Digger MaxXx mixed up the names of the guy doing the shakedowns of the East Coast script consultants. It was Rutger Three-Fingers Hasselhoff.
I try to keep the name in context with the genre AND character in the script Eg. Diamond Lil might be ok for a character in a pulp downtown but might sound ridiculous as a housewife in a simple family soap. Occasionally though I have given names suggesting the opposite of a character BUT that is only to embellish dramatic irony, if I feel its needed in the story. Eg It could be that Mr Smith has characteristics opposite to any common denominator known to man. Travels private jet, keeps enemies in deep freeze and only wears Armani. Names are horses for courses, depending on what you want the audience to initially feel about a character. I get where @Bill is coming from. “Two fingers” makes reader “Think” in the first instance. Gangster or Tragic accident? And then we want to know more, apart from the actual story itself. Above all if its a memorable character, in a well written script, their name will be remembered whether its simple or complex. Eg Mia and Honey Bunny in pulp fiction.
I'm not a fan of David, but I am a fan of Rutger Hauer.
"“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to meet my maker, Bill."
Rutger: Yeah...that is such a great scene, and he sure was a great all-around artist.
RIP, Rutger Hauer.
Yes, Rutger was great. I especially loved him in "The Hitcher". ... But you know what is really scary and describes my life Bill, I just turned on TV and who was the first person I saw,,, you got it, The Hoff.
Rutger: That is freaky. Maybe that's a sign from Rutger Hauer to you, like...."get the Hoff for your next film, Rutger....get the Hoff for your next film!"
Funny thing here in the states after Blade Runner came out....it was kinda the middle of the New Wave music period, and after Blade Runner was released....there must have been 10 or 20 guys at every music club every night...sporting bleached blonde, gelled and feathered hair styles. Not the spikey style of the punk period, and not the Billy Idol/Peter Murphy slicked back style, either...but the Roy Batty special. Heh-heh.
I've seen some of his work with Paul Verhoeven back in the day...I'm sure you've seen them all. What a team.
And get the Hoff, Rutger! Get the Hoff!
(And sorry for the mini-sidetrack, Roach Peters. I mean...Peter Roach.)
2 people like this
I'm not sure Bill, for Elevator Pitch we wanted Harry Dean Stanton from "Paris, Texas" (yes, directed by Wim Wenders, an other Dutch director, but that's a coincidence), for the lead. He literally died on us, just before we started to shoot. The number two on our list (of five) was/is Tom Wright. He did a great job!! Not sure how fit The Hoff still is...
2 people like this
Well, he had a bit part in a movie called "Kung Fury" back in 2015 (and even recorded and performed a song for it - "True Survivor"), so... I'm guessing he's OK.
Hey @Rutger The Hitcher was a seriously cool film. The other Rutger said a lot with just his eyes, windows to the soul.
I think names can say it all up front or be a trojan horse. Eg Walter White in Breaking Bad. Walt is just the right name for a nerdy teacher but then script shows alter ego.