Acting : A question for the Actresses by Tim Morell

what is her perspective on sex and people? does she like them/it? hate them/it? how does she take her being forced/sold to do favors? Victims of SA all process that differently. Some lean heavier into sex as a way to rewrite their story and maintain control. Others become sex adverse. I think revealing her attitudes could help shape her character better.

Thanks for the response. I'm not sure yet. She's not being sold really, used would probably be a better term. I see it as a bit of a trade-off. She's provided with a job that brings her into contact with wealthy and famous people. She's put up in a nice house. She is asked to make herself available on request, but not as a constant, ongoing thing, more like every once in a while. It's not always about sex, sometimes it's just about being an attractive accessory. Because she has ambitions as a singer, perhaps she felt she could justify it all as a means to an end as she gets to meet film and music people in her work, but is at a point where she realizes that she is being used, or more to the point is being strung along, and that the people around her are not ever really going to deliver on their promises. The death of her friend maybe brings all of this into sharper focus and then brings someone into her life who she is ready to risk everything for, or thinks she is. There may be another layer to that. It's all still evolving. I posted this looking for inspiration, a woman's perspective that might provide a key that would unlock a deeper understanding of the character.

Is there some hints to her childhood? What her childhood was like would definitely inform her choices. That is something I delve into when developing my character.

Yeah, I haven't thought about her backstory too much yet. Haven't even decided what nationality she's going to be. Once I do, something may suggest itself, though honestly, I'm not a huge advocate of detailed backstory. I usually just want to give enough information to show what brought the character to the particular point in time where story takes place.

Look Tim, does it really matter what other people think? You're writing this so it's your world. The only question you really have to ask is did I give my character the ability to get her herself out of the mess she finds herself in and what does she need as far as knowledge and skills to believably make her self-reliant. Is she witty? Does she think fast on her feet? Does she have a talent for noticing her environment and adapting what's there to aid her should she find herself in peril? And if you must have some kind of backstory, please try and find something original. I am so sick and tired of the ex-marine or the ex-FBI agent or the ex-CIA agent. Maybe she's just an ex-wife that picked up martial arts for exercise and found it be a body positive experience. Just be original. Maybe she was an ex- female baseball player that left the sport to become a Muslim bride but when she was accused of cheating and was being stoned in a public honor killing, she picked up the rocks and threw beanballs at her attackers killing them all and pitching a perfect game. Now I don't think any writer would have the balls to write a scenario like that except me, but you catch my drift. Just don't think outside of the box, kick the box as far away from you as possible. Studios, directors, and producers will always change everything anyway. Just write like the wind and get it done.

I actually have a bit of a reputation for writing pretty good women characters, but there is something missing in this one that I can't quite put my finger on. So, I thought I would pose the question to the actresses out there to see what traits attracted them to roles, in the hope it might inspire a new perspective I hadn't considered. The next step will be to go back and look at some of the classic noirs like Chinatown, and Double Indemnity, and Body Heat to see how those writers handled the question of attraction and danger but, hopefully, finding a slightly different lens to filter it through,

Tim Morell yes I would want to know what led her to where she is. Also, how she handles/views giving 'favours'. By that I mean what is the story she tells herself about why she does it. I would also want to know her hopes and dreams. As well as about her childhood and how it influenced her to feel disempowered up until that point. Can't wait to hear more at some point.

Does the character have any phobias? How does it affect how she interacts with the people in her life? Does she have pets? Is she more of a cat person or a dog person? Does she not have pets at all? Does she have a phobia of cats or dogs due to being attacked by one in her childhood? Also, what was her childhood like, her time in school? Was she bullied? Being bullied might give her ptsd and affect her trust in people later in life. Just throwing ideas out there. Overall, it's your decision how to write the character.

Alexandra Stevens, As soon as I saw "favours" I knew you had to be from the UK. I appreciate your response. That's kind of the track I'm on. I guess I'm just feeling a little stupid these days and can't quite see her in my head yet. It may be one of those things where I'll just have to discover her in the writing. I've always wanted to try my hand at doing a Chinatown style script set in modern LA but could never come up with an angle I liked. However, I recently came across a singer who has three songs that would provide the perfect backdrop for the script, one of which provided me with not only and name for the project, but the primary visual to build the story around. One of the things I've always remembered about Chinatown was the score. The music is just so haunting, and that ended up being the key that unlocked the idea. I think it could be a pretty good script if I can work out the missing beats, I have an ending in mind I like a lot. Just have to find the right path to get me there.

Tim Morell I fully trust that you will find the right path. I look forward to seeing the film one day. Getting inspired by a singer and songs sounds like a very resourceful and effective way in.

Thanks, Alexandra, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that. The real miracle will be sitting down and actually writing it, so having someone make it seems like an even bigger leap of faith.

Tim Morell what's getting in the way of you sitting down and writing it?

Inertia mostly, and the odd paradox that, while I consider myself to be a pretty good screenwriter, I have never really thought of myself as a WRITER, but rather as someone who can write a little. Which is to say, I see it as something I can do, but not necessarily something I am. So, when the mood strikes, I can sit down and tackle something and usually do a decent job of it, but it takes a lot to motivate me. This idea has kind of gotten my attention though, so I'm hoping it will be one that I'll be able to pick up the gauntlet on since, as I mentioned in another post, the challenge for me is always to see if I can do something interesting, that will live up to my perception of its potential.

Tim Morell well certainly your post has got a lot of interest here so that is a good sign for potential