Name/Describe her pet?

[Kelsey]

While writing today, I came across a problem that had never even crossed my mind before. My main character has a cat that shows up a lot in the script (looking out the window, licking her finger, all relevant to the story, I promise). Do I name the cat, and describe it, or just refer to it as a cat? Thanks.

K~

[ComicBent]

Either way, a name or cat.

[captain bligh]

most pets have names, and if it shows up in the script a lot, you may want to name it. especially since pets can be a reflection of the person who owns them -- in this case your character. you can use the pet as a means of widening and deepening the character.

either that or call it cat.

unless your character or multiple characters address the cat, in which case you really have to name it, since people address pets by their names.

[docohio123]

I think you would treat the cat like any other character in the script.

I have a dog in my script who`s name is a key element to one scene so I found myself not only naming the dog early in the story but describing him, (short detail such as breed and color) so that when the scene came later the dog was already in the story.


TmL

[Kelsey]

Thanks, guys. I was only wondering because it's not like the cat would need to be cast, therefore I didn't know how detailed of a description to include.

[Totiwos]

Sure the cat would have to be "cast," and it would have to "act," too. Whatever the screenplay calls for the cat to do, someone is going to have to figure out how to get a cat to do that in front of the camera.

[wcmartell]

I just finished a script Friday about a dog who owns a guy, and because the dog was an important character, he had a name and a character description (what breed and how the dog behaved - important to know because the dog was in almost every scene).

If he cat in your script is an important character, it deserves a name, right?

- Bill

[TwoBrad Bradley]

Does your Main Character ever call the cat by name?

[Kelsey]

Yes, she refers to her cat by his name, just like anyone would I guess.