I'm writing several episodes of a TV series. There are dozens and dozens of characters, some with similar names. Is it verboten, to use both the characters first and last names CONSISTENTLY, at the character cue? As a writer, I find it simpler to keep track this way. I'm not asking so much if I *CAN*, but am more asking, will things get thrown at me if I *DO*? Thanks, Steve
Hi Steve. Good question. (Forum Moderator here.) If you don't mind, I will move this thread to By Writing Form, under Scripts. You're talking about the formatting of your script here, not character development. Other scriptwriters will be glad to answer your question, I'm sure. I'm not a scriptwriter, but it sounds okay to me to use both names ...although you might try shortening the names if they're too long? I think anything that would keep people from getting confused would be a good idea. But that's just my uninformed opinion. We await the experts.
Are you writing original material, or writing for someone who insists on these character names? if it's original material, why do you want (need?) to use similar names? It's not verboten to use first and last if it makes clear who is who, and makes it easir for actors to find their parts / dialogues. John and Johnny could easily get mixed up, especially if you see it a hundernd time over, so yes I would use JOHN BAKER and JOHNNY CHEN, but only in name headers and action blocks, not in how one character addresses another. Fiona would not address John as John Baker. Same for Mary and Marla. Three fist letters are the same, and can slow down a read. Jane and Janet. And the boys and girls can get mixed up as well; Michael and Michele. Frank and Frankie. Don and Dawn. You have to be careful about choosing character names. Fiona enters the cafe, joins John Baker. FIONA Hi, John Baker, how's the coffee? JOHN BAKER Too weak. I need a punch in the cafe when I drink joe. Fiona would not use his last name as exampled here, unless she wanted to for emphasis, of course. But again, why use similar names in the first place? This is more 'verboten' then using first and last. maddy
Dozens and dozens seems a bit much to start with, but a good example would be Game of Thrones. They deliberately changed some names from the novel to make sure they were not the same as any other character. Try and give them all unique names to make things easier to track. Also, try and avoid too many similar names, and too many main characters starting with the same letter. There is also the option of using titles, such as Dr, Mr, Mrs, Miss etc for minor characters. You won't have things thrown at you, but reader confusion will make it hard to convince them the audience won't get confused watching.
