Ensemble casts

[sumokurt1]

I have a sports comedy screenplay with an ensemble cast. Question: How do I give ample development to the various characters without giving the impression that there is no main character? I do have a main character, but at times it appears I'm abandoning him.

[Rathmon]

Re: Ensemble casts

A movie like Oceans 11 is a good place to start. Ensemble piece, but you know who the main guy is. Always take a look at example scripts comparable to your idea to get a feel.

[roscoegino]

Re: Ensemble casts

Perhaps films like Bull Durham, Major League, Fast Break (only available on VHS) but also M*A*S*H and Mother, Jugs, and Speed should help.

[RogerOThornhill]

Re: Ensemble casts

Victory (WWII Soccer Match)
Cannonball Run
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
The Great Escape
Kelley's Heroes
Italian Job/Brazilian Job
Towering Inferno
The Right Stuff
The Sting
The Wild Bunch

A sports team leader would structurally be a lot like a heist leader or platoon captain, so there might be some useful templates.

[reddery]

Re: Ensemble casts

I do have a main character, but at times it appears I'm abandoning him.

why do you think you're abandoning him?

-The simple rule is: everything that antagonizes the audience, should antagonize the main character

ergo: that's why you have a first act.

[RGF]

Re: Ensemble casts

To answer your question....the first 10 pages are crucial. You might be able to stretch it to 15 when introducing a big group of characters. One way is to show each of your charcters in a conflicted situation that reveals character. Make each scene vivid and memorable and make sure we know everything we need to know about that character from the one scene. And then, somehow, have your main character interact, cross paths with, witness, comment on, all of these scenes, even just briefly. How he reacts to the other situations should tell you volumes about his character as well. This method gives you a sense of who the main (or linking) character is, but you also establish the unique character traits of the ensemble. Good luck. Ensembles are tough.

[WritersBlock2010]

Re: Ensemble casts

One of the tricks to compelling ensembles, in my humble opinion... Is the characters are all archetypes. Sometimes stereotypes depending on the quality of the writing, but definitely archetypes at the very least.

Archetypes are personality types e.g. the strong silent type, the thinker, the brash and arrogant one, the introvert, etc.

While these might at first seem like stereotypes, the difference is they rely on personality (characterization) more than physical attributes.

For example, somebody short of stature can be brash and arrogant while somebody who looks like a pro wrestler could be shy and introverted. The stereotype would be the opposite and just as we expect: Big = bold, small = timid, etc.

Another element that flows out of archetypes is your characters should closely resemble extensions of your theme in an ensemble. They should represent opposing view points that argue and/or challenge the theme (thesis) in different ways. They can also champion the theme as well. Each character should have their own goals (arc) that they are trying and achieve along side your main character.

The "fun" part about ensembles is each character gives the audience a chance to actually experience different outcomes to the overall theme... Unlike traditional stories that center on just one main character. In an ensemble, you can have some of the characters fail, or learn nothing at all... But this of course, is part of the main characters own emotional journey as he/she sees, comments and interacts with the characters whom "fail" and is better in the long run for it.

[Madbandit]

Re: Ensemble casts

Victory (WWII Soccer Match)
Cannonball Run
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
The Great Escape
Kelley's Heroes
Italian Job/Brazilian Job
Towering Inferno
The Right Stuff
The Sting
The Wild Bunch

A sports team leader would structurally be a lot like a heist leader or platoon captain, so there might be some useful templates.

Other suggestions:
Magnificient Seven (though the original Seven Samurai is ten times better)
The Thin Red Line
Pulp Fiction
The Usual Suspects
Nine Lives (not the Paris Hilton flick!!!)

[qualitycontrol]

Re: Ensemble casts

I have a sports comedy screenplay with an ensemble cast. Question: How do I give ample development to the various characters without giving the impression that there is no main character? I do have a main character, but at times it appears I'm abandoning him.

Have their actions relate to the main character or something the main character caused, i.e. Royal Tenenbaums has a lot going on, but its all because of Royal's return.