OTHER CHARACTERS FEELINGS

 
 

It’s Day 7 in our 12 Days Countdown of “Questions to ask about your character”! 

Today we’re diving into FEELINGS—specifically, how your character tries to make others feel. Just like in real life, the way we act, speak, and interact with others has a direct impact on their emotions. Maybe your character wants someone to feel loved, guilty, empowered, or even defeated. Understanding these dynamics can transform your performance and add depth to your scenes.

🤔 Fun Fact: Think of a movie scene where one character clearly wants to provoke a reaction in another—maybe to inspire them, manipulate them, or encourage them to open up. How does their tone, body language, and word choice reflect their intention? Even more interesting, how does the other person react? Is it what the first character expected, or do things take a surprising turn?

🎭 Pro Tip for Character Development: When building a character, ask:

  • What does my character want the other person to feel in this moment?

  • How do they express that desire? Through words, gestures, silence, or something else?

  • Is their approach intentional or instinctive?

  • Do they succeed in making the other character feel that way, or do things backfire?

By layering your character’s intentions with their relationship dynamics, you’ll create scenes that feel alive and unpredictable. For example, if your character is trying to make someone feel supported but accidentally comes across as controlling, that tension can bring incredible richness to your performance.

Relationships and feelings are the heart of every story, just like they’re the heart of our daily lives. By asking thoughtful questions about how your character interacts with others, you’ll bring more truth and depth to your performance.

Keep adding these thoughtful character development questions to your actor journal so you can access them the next time you’re working on an audition or prepping a role you book!

Actorsite Team