So, after the harrowing writing month of November, I decided to take a creative break by casting my characters.
It wasn't as easy as I thought. I don't think my main character exists - or at least, I don't think she's been discovered yet. But if I could turn back the hands of time I would cast Jena Malone as my MC. Check out the rest of my cast of characters...
Tom Sturrbridge -- my MC's bff (and not to bad to look at either - again, I would have to rewind the hands of time by about 10 years.)
Kevin McKidd -- my MC's father -- He was on Journeyman last year, but the show was cancelled. Now, he is the new doctor on Grey's Anatomy. He just has my MC's father's mannerisms down to the T that it really helps me to think about him when I write this character.
Patricia Clarkson -- I'm not sure yet, but I just love her and would love her as either my MC's mom (but too much of an age difference between Patricia and Kevin) or maybe as one of my fantasy characters.
Cate Blanchett... Well who wouldn't love Cate Blanchett to be cast in their book? I'd love her as my antagonist. I think she plays great villains, but she's awesome in any roll.I still don't have some key characters. But that's a search to continue another day...
So, how about you? Who would you cast as your leading lady and leading man? Who would be your antagonist? And how do you go about discovering them? Have any good links for head shots we can all use?
19 comments:
Ooo...love this idea. I'm not sure who I'd cast...I'll have to think on this one!
I don't know enough kid actors to cast my novels entirely, but I have one character that could be played by the girl who played Ofelia in Pan's Labyrinth (that is, if she were to stay the same age forever). And I have one old man I pictured looking like Nigel Hawthorne.
You know, I haven't done this because almost everything I write is MG. Not that I couldn't pick the adults in the book.
But I have written a YA, so maybe it's time to play around a bit!
Beth - it is fun, but surprisingly time consuming too!
Jeanie - I agree - I don't know child actors too well either. That's why both my "child" actors are 10 years way too old. Jena Malone would have been prefect if she could forever remain 13... and Tom Sturrbridge is new on the UK scene, (quite a hottie) but again, way too old. Which leads me to...
PJ - and I agree with you, being that we write for young kids and would therefore need to cast young actors, that part if challenging, so I rely mostly on my own imagination for them. But the adults... I know who most of them are in my mind, but a few...
I did this for one of the YA novels I was writing some months back. It was fun but definitely harder than I expected it to be.
I imagine it's much harder to do for an MG. I don't know what child actors are out there except Dakota Fanning and she is already 14 or 15 now I think!
Good choices though. LOVE Cate Blanchett.
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Susan,
Thanks! I thought so too. Cate and Patricia - what could possibly go wrong with the two of them. Throw in a little eye candy for the youngins... and boom - box office hit! Casting director... Hmmm... how does one become a casting director? Another missed calling...
Casey, I think I remember you doing this. I've always done this in my head, but never actually took the time to try to figure this out for the majority of my cast. Choosing my MC and her bffs was the most difficult part. If I see one more movie with Dakota Fanning, I may barf. And yes, she is in a new thriller and she is about 14 or 15 - almost unrecognizable. She was amazing in I am Sam, but then she was splattered all over and I grew sick of her.
Seems I have a fan.... thanks Maddz. I love you too!
Yes! My story Wild Magnolias won first place in the Sherwood Anderson Contest and that is exactly how I worked on characterization. I clipped pictures out of magazines that I thought my characters might look like. Then I pasted them all around my computer. It really helped me get inside their heads.
My cast of characters are loosely based on the convicts I teach.
I just wanted to post here--congratualtions on your NaNo achievement!!! You must feel really proud!! (YOu should!)
Now that I know you're back to blogging, I'll be over more.
:-)
Love this.. I usually page through an US Weekly or teen mag before I begin writing and cut out my characters. :) Hmm.. But for the SCREWBALL series, I didn't do this. But, I should.. And if I did.. Hmm..
Amy, first off congratulations on winning such a fine award! Second, I've done that too... cut from magazines my characters, pictures of their houses, even their cars, etc and pasted them down to big boards to help me visualize their life as well. Lately, though, I've wanted more than still shots. I want a live picture with actions and mannerisms, etc. It's so interesting how we each do things so differently and yet sometimes... similarly.
Hey JR! Nice to see you again - and shivers... I read your blog - although I can't always comment - and some of the people you meet are definitely inspiring as far as characters are concerned, but scary when you know it is real life and not fantasy...
Hey Chris! Yeah, I've missed all of you and thanks so much for your congrats. NaNo was an awesome experience. I will be planning my writing year around it from now on, I think.
Good tip Keri! I feel so silly - never thought to pan a teen mag. DUH! And yes, now that you're done with screwball, who would you cast as your lead and your lead's bff?
Hi Sheri,
I just was meandering through blogs and found yours through Natalie's. I often picture well known people to help me visualize my characters. I think I'm going to steal your blog idea here and see if I can post a head shot for each of them on my site.
Congratulations on your Nano book!
This is such a fun idea, Sheri! I love Jena Malone, too. Pretty, but very relatable and older than her years, I think. And Cate is remarkable.
I've never done this with any real dedication. But I can see how it would help you really nail the appearance and mannerisms of your characters in your head. It's something I'll have to consider for my next novel. :)
Looks like a great cast (ya know, when you get that time machine)! ;)
Sarah,
It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun too. I keep thinking of new cast members all the time. And maybe, it's a bit like cheating, because their mannerisms are built right in and when I think of that actor, I can see, in my mind, the way they move, the way they deliver their lines, the way they cry, show anger, etc. So, it does help, but it also feels like cheating.
Candice, I can't believe I missed your comment! I am so sorry! Anyway, thanks for stopping by via Natalie. Yes, do give this a try. It is a lot of fun and, for me, when I write, certain characters then come so easily. Certain characters I still picture as the one in my mind, like my MC, but say... the MC's dad. He is so Kevin McKidd. It's not even funny! Anyway, sorry for the long delay in responding!
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