What is Indirect Characterization in Screenwriting? 12 KEY Steps

Indirect characterization is an essential part of constructing a convincing and compelling fictional character. Whether your character is a hero, a villain or a sidekick, they are always more interesting and enjoyable to watch if they are well-rounded and developed with realistic behavior. This is what indirect characterization can add to the writing of your characters.

So in this article, we will provide a detailed definition of indirect characterization as well as tips on using it to its best potential.

Direct Characterization vs Indirect Characterization

Characterization represents your characters to an audience through their personality, thoughts, actions, appearance, and physical traits. This allows the audience to fully understand the characters and to react to them the way you as a screenwriter want them to, whether that be with empathy or hatred. 

There are, however, different types of characterization. And understanding the difference and knowing when to use which will help you balance their uses to create a strong and well-presented character. If there is indirect characterization, then there must be direct characterization. So what is this?

Direct Characterization

Direct characterization is an explicit description of your character. This could be through narration, another character or the character themselves.

• For example, this could be the character being described by another (or the writer) as funny rather than being shown telling jokes or making people laugh.

Direct characterization is often concise when it is used but reveals quite broad and general things about the character to the audience. It encourages the audience to trust what is being said about the character (by another character or the writer) rather than trusting them to see these traits in the character themselves.

Indirect Characterization

So indirect characterization is when a character’s traits are shown rather than told. The reader or audience must infer the character’s traits through thoughts, actions, appearance, interactions, and mannerisms. 

• For example, if the first time we see a character they are walking down the street hunched over, hands in pockets, not making eye contact, then we may deduce that they are someone who doesn’t want to be noticed. 

Indirect characterization allows for the creation of complex characters that may be difficult to write without the need for direct exposition or monologue. They are defined not by what others say but by their own actions and the reactions of other characters around them. 

This also helps create multi-dimensional characters by providing small traits and quirks that while not an integral part of the plot help the audience see the character as a genuine person rather than a plot device. 

Indirect characterization is really the lifeblood of three-dimensional, cinematic characterization. It’s how your character will make a meaningful impact on the story and audience. It helps conjure them as a believable character moving through the story, rather than a character merely present to move the story along.