Pre Production: Character Bios

In order to better understand my story and the the plot, i need to understand my characters inside and out. Almost become them to understand how they would respond and react to situations, dramatic or minor. This is established through character profiles and backstory, this way, we know the characters previous life up until the point of the film, so therefore we can understand why how they may act to the films 'situation' making the story flow.

Below are my characters:

Emily "Em" Atkinson

Basic Statistics

Character type: Protagonist

Age: 25

Nationality: English
Hometown: Traveled throughout London and South East England with no fixed home for longer than a year.
Current Location: Rural Kent.
Occupation: Self Employed Photographer, Boss of her own Photography company.
Talent/Skills: Confident and Driven career-woman
Significant other: Daniel, her boyfriend of 2 and a half years of whom they live together.
Children? None. Yet.
Parents? Mother and her have a tainted relationship due to childhood of different boyfriends and traveling all over to find work, and a home. Father left at a young age as he didn't want a child.
Grandparents? Never met her grandparents.

Friends: Small group of friends, of whom at one point were very close but now are very different and distant.

Physical Characteristics

Race: Caucasian

Height: 5'7

Weight: 8st 

Eye Colour: Green

Hair Colour: Brunette/Dark Brown

Body Shape: Straight
Distinguishing Features: Vibrant green eyes, with Dark Brown salon quality hair.

How does she dress? Coordinated, fashionable yet practical, usually formal.

Style: Practical yet fashionable.

Health: Healthy

Hobbies: Spending time with her boyfriend through dates, days out and doing things that she would like to do, Running, gym and Photography.

Habits: Snapping at people when in a bad mood.

Mannerisms: Playing with the back of her hair when stressed to calm her, folding her arms when annoyed, looking down then up and side smiling when happy, putting her hand over her mouth when crying.

Greatest Flaw: Over-controlling of not only her life but others within her life.

Best Qualities: Loving and caring at heart wanting only the best for people she cares about, her eyes and hair.

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: Barely at school through secondary through relocation, but studied hard to achieve good grades. Went on to Bournemouth University to study photography and graduated with hons with 1st.
Intelligence Level: Considerably High
Mental Illnesses? None.
Learning Experiences: To try to control as much as you can, life is what you make it, don't leave things to chance.

Short Term life goals: Get promoted in her job, get married to Dan and earn a good wage.
Long Term life goals: To get married, have children, have control of her life and provide the best future for her children.

How does the character see their-self? Driven, determined, caring and neat.
How does the character believe they are perceived by others? Bossy, sometimes rude, cold, but by ones she loves, caring.

Logic, Emotion or Both? Logic.
Believe in God? No.
Spiritual beliefs? None.
Religion or Spirituality part of their life? No. Believes life is what you make it.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths: Driven, Works hard, Loving person and caring.

Weaknesses: Controlling, Bossy, Does not cope well with unforeseen change.

Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert

How does the character deal with...

Anger? Through tears and shouting, usually screaming into a pillow.

Sadness? Cries on her own, would choose to not show her sadness.

Conflict? Meets it with her own conflict through shouting or verbal confrontation.

Change? If it is not predicted and unplanned for by her then very poorly.

Loss? Struggles deeply, especially if the person is close to her and loved by her.

What does this character want from life? A loving husband, two children, a stable home and a future for her children.
What motivates this character? Not to end up like her mother, to be comfortable, successful and safe.
Greatest Fear: Loss of Control of her life and to end up like her mother.
What makes them happy? The idea of being safe, comfortable and married to her boyfriend Daniel.
Generous or Stingy? Generous
Polite or Rude? Polite to loved ones. Can come across as rude to those she doesn't know.

Story Involvement

Characters Role: Main Character
Character's first scene: First Scene entering the house.

Relationship with...
- Daniel: Her boyfriend, loves him deeply and wants a future together with him, and will do anything for it.
- Stephanie: Her boyfriend's affair partner, deep resentment for her as she sees her as a homewrecker and a threat to her control of her life.

Backstory

Mother had numerous loves when she was a teenager through to a young adult, and one of those relationships ended with her falling pregnant. The Father of the child had no interest in being a father and left her on her own to raise this child. This child, is Emily.

As Emily grew into her childhood through to adolescence her mother had numerous relationships, all of which ending poorly. Emily's mother's terrible taste in men causes her to end up in violent, dysfunctional and manic relationships, causing her mother to build a dependency for alcohol.

Her mother always deeply loved Emily and deep down wanted the best for her, however the inebriated state she was in to cope with her environment and decisions in life causes her feeling to be distorted and hard to understand.

Emily saw throughout her childhood what her mother had become and, though extremely hard to do, she accepted that her mother was no longer the woman she loved and admired and made the decision to go to University with the intention of never returning to her mother until she can earn enough money to get her out and take her somewhere safe.

Emily is a smart girl and even though she spent her child moving from place to place for her mother's boyfriends homes. This meant new school after new school but she enjoyed school, working hard and learning. As she grew up she had numerous jobs as a waitress to pay for her own Photography camera, her passion was photography and to become a photographer. She was able to achieve good grades through school and college to able her to go to university.

Emily went to University and studied Photography, finding the initial change of moving out difficult but she pulled through and managed to find her feet and work hard to get through her course. During her time at university she began to get close with Daniel Bennett. A tall handsome man who was very much interested in Emily. The two both fell in love quickly spending all their free time and most of their not so free time together. Everything seemed perfect for Emily but one day when Emily was staying late working in the library she received a text from her mother's most recent boyfriend telling her that her mother had died suddenly of liver failure.

Emily grieved deeply for her mother, but eventually putting the blame of her death entirely on her, telling her self that she never took control and let that happen to herself. This caused Emily to feel the need to control her life to ensure she never turned into her mother and let herself get into that situation. From there on, Emily had to have control.

Though traumatic, Emily pushed through and managed to finish university, despite everything, with a 1st class honorary degree. Her boyfriend Dan with her every step of the way.

Upon leaving university, Emily worked hard and created her own photography company, which did very well allowing her to earn enough money her and Dan to move into a home together.

Emily and Dan's relationship is tested as they move in together, Emily's controlling nature has begun to put pressure on their relationship as everything needs to be planned and organised, treating her life like a business or a plan.

Daniel "Dan" Bennett

Basic Statistics

Character type: Dynamic

Age: 24

Nationality: English
Hometown: Sevenoaks, Kent.
Current Location: Rural Kent.
Occupation: 2nd Team Rugby Coach
Talent/Skills: Great Rugby player before injury, driven and hard worker.
Significant other: Emily, his girlfriend of 2 and a half years of whom they live together.
Children? None.
Parents? Wealthy mother and father who are loving and supporting of their children.
Grandparents? Grandfather of mother's side passed of whom he idolized, due to his fame as a rugby player. Sees a lot his Grandmother as she lives alone following passing of husband, to make her happy so she doesn't get lonely. Grandmother and father on father's side live far north and sees them rarely, however a good relationship.

Friends: Large group of friends, ex-teammates and friends from school and uni, sees each of them when he can as he is a social person.

Physical Characteristics

Race: Caucasian

Height: 6'1

Weight: 13st 

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Light Brown

Body Shape: Mesomorph
Distinguishing Features: Strong jaw with bright blue eyes. 

How does she dress? Casual, usually in some sort of sport wear, practical and comfortable. Can scrub up and look very smart when he needs to.

Style: Casual

Health: Healthy

Hobbies: Gym, Running, watching sports and films.

Habits: Getting quite drunk with friends, keeping fit, singing badly loudly.

Mannerisms: Hands in pockets, sitting laid back, lays sprawled out.

Greatest Flaw: His moment of weakness through infidelity.

Best Qualities: Calm and kind nature and looks.

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: Secondary School, Sixth form and Bournemouth University to study Sport Development & Coaching Sciences. Graduating with a 2:1.
Intelligence Level: Moderately High
Mental Illnesses? None.
Learning Experiences: Mostly through rugby, look out for people and they will look out for you. Remember what people do for you. As long as you put in 100%, that's all that matters.

Short Term life goals: Become a rugby coach and talk to Emily about her controlling nature.
Long Term life goals: To enjoy his life, become a well known name in the sporting world, make lots of friends and be happy, be with Emily and enjoy their life together.

How does the character see their-self? Kind, helpful, easy going.
How does the character believe they are perceived by others? Easy going, funny, laid back and 'a good laugh'.

Logic, Emotion or Both? Emotion.
Believe in God? No.
Spiritual beliefs? Karma.
Religion or Spirituality part of their life? Believes in karma and how actions have consequences, also this along with fate, believes in 'a better place' after death.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths: Strong, helpful, calm and athletic.

Weaknesses: Can be easily swayed, likes to avoid confrontation with loved ones, can be spiteful with actions and ruled by emotions.

Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert

How does the character deal with...

Anger? Goes to the gym or punches a punchbag, uses anger to vent frustration.

Sadness? Exercises to physically work out his emotions.

Conflict? Meets conflict with his own confrontation, however with loved ones he is submissive.

Change? Deals with it in his own stride, tries to think of the good sides, rational.

Loss? Deeply affected but looks to the hope that they 'go to a better place'.

What does this character want from life? A happy comfortable life in which he makes many memories, friends and a family.
What motivates this character? Becoming a well known figure in the sporting world, and to become a figure that his children can look up to like he does with his grandfather.
Greatest Fear: Loss of loved ones in his life.
What makes them happy? Meeting friends, spending time with Emily, being involved with rugby.
Generous or Stingy? Generous
Polite or Rude? Polite

Story Involvement

Characters Role: The Boyfriend
Character's first scene: Second scene upon seeing him in bedroom.

Relationship with...
- Emily: His girlfriend, loves her deeply but more recently her controlling nature of their relationship is making him frustrated and doesn't want his life dictated for him.
- Stephanie: His affair partner, has a moment of weakness with Emily and has an emotional and once physical affair with Steph. However, Dan realizes his love for Emily after having sex with Steph.

Backstory

Dan was brought up within a Middle Class family in Sevenoaks, Kent. With a loving and supportive family he grew up with financial and social freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. His family was a warm, supportive and close one of which believed in working hard to achieve good things but ultimately happiness is key.

He grew up being very close to his Grandfather of whom was an ex professional rugby player. Dan idolized his grandfather as a strong, sociable and loving person who had hundreds of stories through sport and other areas of his life.

Dan took up rugby at the same club his grandfather started at and developed as a player from a young age to his young adult years. Dan developed well and through training, hard work and commitment grew into being a fine player.

His family supported his decision to become a rugby player, however at the same time he has to focus on his education, obviously understanding that it cannot be his whole life. He studied hard and achieved good grades within school.

Constantly seeking his grandfather's advice within rugby, Dan saw his grandfather a lot which only strengthened their bond together. Until one day Dan was offered an opportunity to trial for a semi professional contract for a rugby team. It would involve him going away to Bath for three weeks to train and see if he had what it takes to go professional.

Dan left for the three week 'camp' but during this time his grandfather, had a sudden and fatal heart attack in the early hours of one morning. The camp Dan was on was unreachable to contact due to signal and telephone line issues causing Dan to not realize his role model had passed.

Later that day Dan suffered a serious shoulder dislocation during training causing him to have to retire from the camp. Dan headed to hospital for surgery and his parents were informed of the situation.

Dan was told that due to the damage caused his shoulder would never be able to take the force of impact in a tackle again, informing that his playing days are over. Then after this is parents had finally been able to get in contact, informing his of his grandfathers passing.

After a period of self reflection and sole searching Dan concluded that though his playing days are over he still would want to be involved in the sport he loved. He had so much knowledge of the game that he felt it a waste to abandon it. So he decided to study and go to university to learn to become a coach.

While at university Dan excelled in his course, and met Emily. They began dating and then chose to make it official by Dan introducing Emily to his parents. Emily loved the childhood and life that Dan had and was fascinated by the stories Dan shared about his life and his granddad.

Upon the death of Emily's mother, Dan helped her as much as possible helping her get her work done and get through the difficult stage of which he had experience. Dan helped so much with her work that he jeopardized his own work causing him to get a grade that was beneath his standards, but was happy none the less as he was able to help the one he loved.

Upon leaving University, Dan was quickly picked up by a Rugby Club in Kent as a Second Team coach. A good start and an opportunity to make a name for himself.

Eventually Emily and Dan moved in together with a combination of their salaries. Predominantly Emily's.

With the stresses of everyday life and work and Emily's growing need for control, their relationship becomes very different. Dan feels trapped by Emily's need for control of their life together and feels that he cannot do anything without asking or spontaneously.

While working he meets physio Steph, of whom he is friends with at the Rugby Club. He finds that as Emily becomes more controlling the more he wants to rebel against her control, a feeling he is not at all proud of an tries to ignore.

After a successful team win at the Rugby Club, Dan, drunk, is kissed by Steph who is very much interested in Dan, revealing her feelings for him. Dan and Steph talk more often in secret, as he (though hates himself for it) likes the relaxed nature of Steph. The two have an emotional affair, which one day leads to become physical.

Stephanie 'Steph' Gray

Basic Statistics

Character type: Antagonist

Age: 24

Nationality: English
Hometown: Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Current Location: Rural Kent.
Occupation: Physiotherapist.
Talent/Skills: Charismatic, Academic and Sporty.
Significant other: Daniel, a love interest.
Children? None.
Parents? Good relationship with parents, always has been a social person with a shared interest in rugby due to her Father.
Grandparents? Grandfather and Grandmother on mother's side passed recently and Father's side live far north.

Friends: Large social groups, popular person who is friendly with everyone she meets. Loving person who looks out for her friends.

Physical Characteristics

Race: Caucasian

Height: 5'6

Weight: 8st 

Eye Colour: Hazel

Hair Colour: Blonde

Body Shape: Straight
Distinguishing Features: Figure and Eyes

How does she dress? Sporty, gym/tracksuits but can dress up when needed.

Style: Practical and sporty.

Health: Healthy

Hobbies: Spending time with her family, friends and keeping fit.

Habits: Keeping Healthy and Fit, Eating well and occasionally going out for a drink with friends.

Mannerisms: Fiddling with her hair, speaks quickly when nervous.

Greatest Flaw: Her interest in a man who is in a relationship. (Conflicted about her emotions with this)

Best Qualities: Funny and calm person with a relaxed nature.

Intellectual/Mental/Personality Attributes and Attitudes

Educational Background: Achieved very good grades at school, sixth form and graduated from University studying Physiotherapy at University of East Anglia with a 1st.
Intelligence Level: High.
Mental Illnesses? None.
Learning Experiences: Hard work pays off, you get out of life what you put in, its important to be calm and relax.

Short Term life goals: Continue working as a physio at her Rugby club and continue to make contacts.
Long Term life goals: Potentially get a job as a physio for an international side, one day get married and have a child. Have many friends and always be social.

How does the character see their-self? Kind, talkative and relaxed.
How does the character believe they are perceived by others? Maybe a little too talkative, bubbly and relaxed.

Logic, Emotion or Both? Emotion.
Believe in God? No.
Spiritual beliefs? Fate.
Religion or Spirituality part of their life? Yes, believes that sometime some things are meant to happen, but for a reason.

Emotional Characteristics

Strengths: Strong minded, positive outlook on life and a warming person.

Weaknesses: Her kindness is taken for granted, avoids confrontation or conflict.

Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert

How does the character deal with...

Anger? Would try to stay calm and positive, but if too much frustration and tears.

Sadness? Remember that everything happens for a reason, may cry.

Conflict? Would actively try to avoid conflict as she wouldn't want to cause anyone harm.

Change? See the good in change and actively try to seek the positive.

Loss? Affected and hurt but would try to stay strong and move on.

What does this character want from life? A happy, relaxed life in which she laughs often and makes many good memories.
What motivates this character? Her self belief and her personality, also being able to help people.
Greatest Fear: Not being able to help, as someone that takes care of people when injured or in pain she actively looks to avoid people feeling this way/take the pain away.
What makes them happy? Being social, her career, time spent around Dan.
Generous or Stingy? Generous
Polite or Rude? Polite.

Story Involvement

Characters Role: Love interest of Dan.
Character's first scene: Second Scene, Bedroom.

Relationship with...
- Daniel: Her love interest, starting to fall for him but aware she is doing wrong and is conflicted with emotions as she doesn't want to be a homewrecker.
- Emily: Dan's Girlfriend, obviously knows her through Dan but has never met her before the film. Feels her controlling nature is something very odd.

Backstory

Steph was born into a middle class loving family in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Her mother and father raised her to become a sporty social and charismatic girl who preferred going to watch her father play rugby than anything else.

As a child and into her teens she was very much a tomboy. She enjoyed watching her father play and 'helping' tend to his wounds after games. Her father always used to call her 'his own little physio'.

Steph loved this and decided from a young age, this is what she wanted to do. She always enjoyed helping people in any and all situations, a kind person that thought of others before herself.

Steph excelled in school, enjoying learning along side getting involved with any and all sports she could. She got very good grades in school and sixth form, then going on to go to the University of East Anglia, to study Physiotherapy.

Her time at university was spent in a mixture of hard work and socializing as her kind and warming nature made her a very friendly and popular person.

Upon leaving university she got a job as a physiotherapist almost immediately for a Rugby Club in Kent. Being a popular and charismatic person Steph quickly fit in and found that she knew pretty much everyone at the club, being nicknamed 'The healer'.

While working at the Rugby Club a new coach arrived, this coach is Dan. They would talk often, like she would everyone else but more with Dan as he always needed to know the health of his players. These regular conversations however tended to drift from player talk to personal talk, as they got to know one another.

One night, after Dan's team won one of their matches all the players and staff got very merry to celebrate. In a 'drunken state' the two were playfully teasing one another when Steph kissed Dan. Steph felt embarrassed and terrible for her actions as she knew Dan had a relationship.

After a few days the two spoke about it and denounced the night as a mistake but the two both confessed feelings for one another. From here the two began an emotional affair in which Steph enjoyed, but at the back of her mind knew what was happening was wrong. Eventually however the two eventually had a psychical affair which made things more the complicated.

What's Next?

• Begin Writing the Script for the film.
• Update Character Profile Research.
• Following Script, create storyboard.