Character breakdown?

[ABZ18]

Hi all,

A producer wants me to send a character breakdown aside from the synopsis and logline. Does anyone have an example or can explain to me exactly what that is. Is it just a list of characters or does it give a summary description or something more in depth?

Thank you.

ABZ

[Deus Ex Machine]

Character names plus a few lines detailing the age, description and essence of the character kind of like an intro for the protagonist but for each character.

JOHN DOE: 35, A burned out divorced ex-cop paying the bills as a private eye specializing in catching cheating spouses.

JANE DOE: 34, yada yada yada.

[JoanEasley]

I've heard of a producer who is asking for character breakdowns when he requests scripts. It's an unusual, request, but I wouldn't say it is "wrong. "

However, after reading one of his script request letters, I'm suspicious this might be deal where he requests scripts from everyone and then wants you to pay him to fix it up, or market it, or something. I could be wrong.

You might be dealing with an entirely different guy, under entirely different circumstances. If so, ignore me.

However, if this guy DOES ask you for money for any reason, run the other way. You shouldn't have to pay a producer -- a producer should be paying you.

[filmcarver]

A lot of posters here pose questions about what this entity or that entity meant they are trying to work with; i.e. producer, agent, manager.

Look, if someone requests your material and has extra wants or needs....discuss it...get clarity. They won't bite, and if they do, then move on. Make sure you are clear on what THEY want, not what someone else says they think they want, etc.

Relationships come from people helping people, and most of the people you are wanting to work with will appreciate those who ask questions, listen, and then do.

Example here, this producer may want no more than the above, or, if in a casting question, may want more detail than that, things you might not include in a sidebar parathetical in a script.

The best way to forage out the legitimacy of an interest or relationship is to continue a reasonable level of dialogue (reasonable!) and see how the chemistry feels.

Rants

[altoption]

Good advice, filmcarver. You don't have to misrepresent your experience, or your lack of it. You're probably not fooling anyone pretending to know more than you do. Nothing wrong with asking for a sample, either, to see exactly what someone is looking for.