Say I have one character who has multiple Aliases. For example, his family calls him one name but his friends call him another. What's the best way to go about writing this? Should I use his first alias all the way through the screenplay, or change it depending on the scene and people involved? Any other methods?
Aliases?
- Thread starter kylevant
- Start date
Egg Born Son
Veteran
Use only ONE name to identify the character within the descriptions and to label that character's lines. Within the dialogue use the other names freely. If there is a parenthesis action or note in the dialogue refer to the character by the chosen name. How bluntly you want to spell it out in the dialogue is up to you, as long as the people reading the script can identify that descriptions and lines belong to that character.
You can have a character simply call him by his nickname and let it work itself out:
CHARLIE
I'm ready.
JEFF
About time Bumrocket, let's go.
Or make it more obvious to the reader in a way that won't appear on screen:
JEFF
(looks at Charlie)
Ready to go, Bumrocket?
Or spell it out for the audience too:
MOTHER
Why do they call you Bumrocket, Charlie?
If the character is somewhat fractured like a split personality case, dressing and/or behaving distinctly different you might want to differentiate him as different characters:
CHARLIE (NORMAL)
Hello Mom.
CHARLIE (BUMROCKET)
Hi Jeff.
CHARLIE (X-DRESSER)
Well hello, sailor.
You can have a character simply call him by his nickname and let it work itself out:
CHARLIE
I'm ready.
JEFF
About time Bumrocket, let's go.
Or make it more obvious to the reader in a way that won't appear on screen:
JEFF
(looks at Charlie)
Ready to go, Bumrocket?
Or spell it out for the audience too:
MOTHER
Why do they call you Bumrocket, Charlie?
If the character is somewhat fractured like a split personality case, dressing and/or behaving distinctly different you might want to differentiate him as different characters:
CHARLIE (NORMAL)
Hello Mom.
CHARLIE (BUMROCKET)
Hi Jeff.
CHARLIE (X-DRESSER)
Well hello, sailor.
CallaghanFilms
Veteran
As the audience knows, so knows the script.
In other words, if the 'alias' in question is a hook or twist in relation to the plot, let the CHARACTER'S NAME(s) reflect this organically.
But if it is just a (non-traditional) nickname used by other, fairly major, characters; you could always use some wee flair in the INITIAL CHARACTER INTRODUCTION...
[scrippet] All eyes fall on MARK "SHARTY" SHMELLING (young, rotund), as he lives up to his unfortunate nickname. PFFFTTT! [/scrippet]
Edit:
I say 'non-traditional' because you obviously can let established nicknames speak for themselves (Betty, Billy, JohnJohn, Jack, etc.)
In other words, if the 'alias' in question is a hook or twist in relation to the plot, let the CHARACTER'S NAME(s) reflect this organically.
But if it is just a (non-traditional) nickname used by other, fairly major, characters; you could always use some wee flair in the INITIAL CHARACTER INTRODUCTION...
[scrippet] All eyes fall on MARK "SHARTY" SHMELLING (young, rotund), as he lives up to his unfortunate nickname. PFFFTTT! [/scrippet]
Edit:
I say 'non-traditional' because you obviously can let established nicknames speak for themselves (Betty, Billy, JohnJohn, Jack, etc.)
Last edited:
Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
This might help-- part of a scene from She's the Man which I recently viewed, twice, this past week. Viola is disguised as her brother Sebastian so she can play soccer at the boys academy. In this scene the principle/headmaster of course sees her as Sebastian. Notice the use of Viola and Sebastian in the narrative and dialogue; just one possible way to address how to address a character who goes by various names. In earlier scenes of course Viola is Viola, all girl, not in disguise.
