Planning: Character Representations - Mrs. Quinlan

Introduction

Character representation is very important in the film industry as it gives the audience a chance to understand the narrative of the film and the type of characteristic that the actor may have in common with their character. I think it is a key thing for films to have characters who share a physical and mental resemblance with the person portraying them, for example someone with maybe a dark side to them if angry can be the antagonist as that is something they will blossom in due to the similar characteristic. One character be seen as innocent which further allows for us to dig deeper into that network of who and why they look innocent or vulnerable.

Name: Emeka Datha-Moore

Character Role: Antagonist – Clown

Age: 17

Gender stereotype of role: Antagonists are meant to look and be intimidating and using someone who is 6’3 and well-built to play in such an antagonizing role is something we went through and saw as a possibility and tried to move from the common conventions of clowns being slim and short having their mind as their main strength when we can use a character who is big and has their strength as possibly their key thing. Also a guy as the antagonist stereotypically makes the opening a bit darker due to common conventions.

Costume, Hair & Makeup: Covering the actors face in a white mask or face paint is a good way to hide the identity which is what we are aiming for and the fact that white is such a golden image and innocent colour allows for the path of confusion to be opened up for the audience. We thought largely about the costume used for the antagonist and decided to go for a dirty white shirt, military style trousers and boots to move off the basic, remorseful clown and gone for a unique brutal clown with no empathy of nothing. From the dark clothing we haven’t followed that path with the hair and gone for a multi-colored wig instead of one consisting of dark colours. This allows for us to walk away from the common conventions of clowns and into one easily created using this character.

Body Language and Facial Expression: The body language of the antagonist will require them to hold a stern and stiff like posture just to bring out their build and physicality, this is important as it shows a dark character. The body language for this character is key as it allows for the antagonist to look scarier if intended and creates the intention of this character being a possible enemy if come across. In terms of facial expression if a mask is to be worn then this antagonist wouldn’t require facial expressions other than when he approaches the victim at the park. If however the antagonist uses face paint then facial expressions will be key in supporting character role and representation as it helps show the emotions of this character along with their body language.

Represented as: This actor is represented as quite intimidating in relation to the antagonist he is playing due to the height and physical built of his character. Most big actors are cast as the powerhouses in thrillers, the one character that everyone finds difficult to go through and by using an actor who is 6’3 and quite well built, we have followed this common convention by casting him as the villain rather than the protagonist or even anti-hero.

Role within the narrative: The role within the narrative is to bring out this uncommon clown as a highly intimidating antagonist yet stay in the region of being a thriller antagonist and not a horror antagonist which will be difficult but then overcoming it will be a feat as trying to get a brutal clown character out of this opening without creeping into the horror genre.

Conclusion

I feel like I have represented this character effectively as it allows the audience to have a better understanding of the actor which allows for them to get used to the antagonist as how we wish for them to be portrayed. Also it helps us get a better understanding of why we chose this specific person to take the role of the antagonist and what specifications they met to gain the role of this brutal clown which is down to their physical attributes and facial expressions they are known for.

Name: Tyler Neophitou (Taller Person)

Character Role:  Clown Entrepreneur

Age: 16

Gender stereotype of role: An entrepreneur is a spitting image of the person training them, be the predecessor they are destined to be and using an innocent character to take over this role is good as it shows that this small character will be nurtured into the intimidating character that is the antagonist. Take a film like the Dark Knight rises (spoiler alert) where the small police officer is trained without knowledge of it into Batman’s sidekick (Robin), he is the predecessor in terms of anti-hero fighting crime. Just as we will do in our thriller opening we are training this young character without knowledge of it that he will later become what his mentor is. Using a male also steps aside from adding another sub-genre into the thriller and leaves the darkness effect added to the opening which is a good thing as it is as if we are turning this angel into a demon.

Costume, Hair & Makeup: We decided to also cover this characters face in the same identity-hiding as the main antagonist as an entrepreneur he will practically be copying everything this character does but in his own way of some sort. The hair, makeup and costume for this character will be very basic yet classy down to the fact that he isn’t really his own character yet as identified in the opening he has just been introduced as the number two to the first character.

Body Language and Facial Expression: Facial expression cannot be explained in this as his face will be covered but we will try our best to make sure as a character he makes it seem to the audience as the mask is his face. The body language of this character will be important in the notion that it is to show us what type of character he is and the characteristics that come with his character. Also depriving from the fact he is a much smaller built antagonist the body language will be added to show that he struggles in some way to do certain things the antagonist tells him or shows him to do. 

However with the help of the antagonist standing beside him egging him on his body language will be used to show he is getting the hang of his new found role.

Role within narrative: This characters role within the narrative will be to bring out the darker side in him rather than the innocent side he may possess and further justify that anyone can become an antagonist. He has been given this role because of many factors which explain his character and why he has been chosen as an antagonists entrepreneur. Many baby-face actors within thriller films are seen as the victim or the brave protagonist however in our thriller opening we decided against going for that same convention as everyone else.

Represented as: This character is represented as being quite innocent yet eager to learn down to body built and baby face. The baby face gives it away that he is too innocent to be an antagonist which kind of leans away from the common conventions that are portrayed currently in the media. Being quite slimmer and less built than the antagonist this character is represented as the one you could never quite expect to be the character he has been casted as which is a good thing for our thriller as we have stepped away from common conventions and walked into our own thing. The body language will also be a huge factor as by acting the way he looks, he can show the audience that he is not the cute innocent character he looks without the mask and characteristics that have been applied to him.

Conclusion

I feel like I have represented this character to good effect as his appearance slightly fits his identity yet without going off topic we have created a new convention with this character by making this potential antagonist come off with an innocent face. This isn’t really common therefore adds that little bit of spice to our thriller as the audience will be curious into how they applied the actor to fit the character, and will also be intrigued by what lies ahead for this character and how he fits into the thriller.