Room to exercise

An Introduction to Screenwriting

UEA (University of East Anglia)

 

Introduction to Screenwriting: 2.6

An exercise to develop character outlines

For this exercise, I've stuck with the example of Emma Donoghue's Room that I've used in the previous units. I probably missed some important major actions, but I didn't over think the process. I was surprised how helpful the list was to outline Jack's character.

• Jack revisits Room and says goodbye
  Jack plays soccer with a friend
  Jack leaves the upstairs landing to play with a dog
  plays with the toys strangers have sent him
  timid in hospital when breakfast is brought in on a tray
  shouts help
  runs away from Old Nick
  practices rolling up in rug
  pulls apart the toy car Old Nick brought for his birthday
  heating goes off
  eats birthday cake
  physical exercise
  Jack makes himself breakfast
  from inside Wardrobe, Jack looks through a crack to see Old Nick
  
  From the off, Jack's view is one of inside, looking out. He has a literal understanding, expressed by his personification of nouns: spoon, for eg, is called Meltedy Spoon, as though a proper noun; Room is a character, etc.
  
  Jack doesn't understand the concept of being able to go outside. He is curious and intelligent but also timid. 
  A casual observer might describe Jack as feminine and timid.
  
  Because of his mother's depression, Jack has learnt to be independent, making his own breakfast, occupying himself for en entire day and finally putting himself to bed during one of her episodes.