OOC: Writing Workshop - Developing Memorable Characters
What do you know about this character now that s/he doesn’t yet know?
That she got back together with Kenickie - the guy she ditched for being a dead-end shmuck in the first place. Even when she thought she was pregnant, she knew it was better to go through it without him. When she told him that it was "sombody else's mistake" in response to his grandstanding attempts at being a father, be believed far too easily that she had been fooling around on her. He thought she was a slut, just like the rest of the school did. Rizzo came to TR from her bravest moment - choosing independence and struggle over compromising herself and her future to take the 'safe' route. That she goes back to him after finding her womb in the clear breaks my heart a little, even if the movie plays it like a great reunion.
What is this character’s greatest flaw?
She's internalized too many judgements about her to easily change her mindset in a healthy or productive way.
What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit?
She know of her own severe vulnerability, and thinks she hides it far better than she actually does under her "tough gal" exterior. There are cracks, and they're visible, and she doesn't ever want to admit they exist.
What is this character’s greatest asset?
Despite her tough-talking persona, she's remarkably honest. She doesn't steal, and she doesn't lie, and she doesn't actually want to hurt anyone - especially someone as vulnerable as herself.
If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be?
She'd be through and through the tough gal she turned herself into in an attempt to gain attention from her parents and craft a place for herself in a stereotypical 1950s world in which she doesn't fit.
What music does this character sing to when no one else is around?
If her canon is anything to go with, heartfelt ballads. When it comes to the kind of music she actually likes, it's the racier Elvis with his hip-shaking shenanigans.
In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith?
She's too cynical to have much faith in anything - she would have said the Pink Ladies, once, but they turned her over to the gossip mill during her pregnancy scare, and only Sandy asked if she needed any help. On the island she'd say Doc Paul - he's her entire family and lifeline here.
What is this character’s favorite movie?
She's gone to plenty movies at the drive-in, but never payed much attention to them. She liked the horror films the best - everthing else was too shmoopy and laughable. Since the island brought the whole Revenge of the Bodysnatchers scenarios to life, she likes them a little bit less.
Does this character have a favorite article of clothing? Favorite shoes?
Anything tight, dark, and as far from the pastel poodle-skirts and bobby socks of her classmates. Visual markers of difference have long been a stand in for her from what she considers to be her mental disconnect from the majority of them.
Does this character have a vice? Name it.
Drinking. Smoking. Unsafe sex, although she's gotten a bit better at that last one.
Name this character’s favorite person (living or dead).
At home - James Dean. On the island - Doc Paul.
What is this character’s secret wish?
That she could be loved and respected without confinement (marriage, strict gender roles, motherhood and housekeeping).
What is this character’s proudest achievement?
Getting a A in shop class.
Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment.
Losing her virginity - the guy already thought she was 'experienced' from her style and mannerisms, and she was only fourteen.
What is this character’s deepest regret?
Going steady with Kenickie.
What is this character’s greatest fear?
That she's going to end up imprisoned, cheated on, and alcohol-dependent like her housewife mother.
Describe this character’s most devastating moment.
When the whole school chattered about her being a knocked-up whore, and she belived them.
What is this character’s greatest achievement?
Unlike Sandy, Rizzo doesn't compromise herself to get her man. She would have somehow raised her bastard baby alone, despite her parents disowning her when they found out.
What is this character’s greatest hope?
That she can be unquestionably happy one day, and won't have to be alone without sacrificing any part of herself.
Does this character have an obsession? Name it.
What people think of her, which is ironic since a key facet of her tough gal persona is her 'devil may care' attitude
What is this character’s greatest disappointment?
That nothing she could ever do, no matter how outrageous or dangerous, could never bring her the attention or concern of her parents.
What is this character’s worst nightmare?
Being imprisoned, without choice, and forced to conform to the good girl 1950s image and lifestyle. Like the Stepford Wives, really.
Whom does this character most wish to please? Why?
Used to be her parents, as a child and her first few years as a teenager. As a high school student, it was the tough boys in the gangs that she emulated. On the island, it's Paul (again.).
Describe this character’s mother.
Miserable, bored, alcoholic, and often drugged out on Mother's Little Helper. She was pretty, once, but now she's like a frail doll that sits around in curlers and a robe flipping through Better Homes and Gardens magazine when she's not dazedly cooking or cleaning.
Describe this character’s father.
Womanizing, charismatic, and forgetful, with a trail of affairs with secretaries in his wake. A bank manager, he kept his family firmly in the realm of the middle class. Every once and awhile he remembered his wife and daughter, and showered them with gifts as a replacement for any actual care.
If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live?
With the Pink Ladies back home, and here probably with Tom and Paul, if she couldn't live alone.
Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have?
She's a single child, so without the companionship or responsibility of siblings. She's on her own against the world, in her mind.
Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives.
Her replacement family was the Pink Ladies, and, accordingly, the T-Birds. As gangs go, they're pretty low key, but she's always had access to cigarettes, alcohol, and oppertunities for poor choices. Frenchie, Jan, and Marty were the closest things she had to family and best friends - but even they threw her under the bus when she had her pregnancy scare.
Describe this character’s bedroom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGcPYD-R-Y 1:17 - 1:30 for her room in canon (at least the animated version).
That she got back together with Kenickie - the guy she ditched for being a dead-end shmuck in the first place. Even when she thought she was pregnant, she knew it was better to go through it without him. When she told him that it was "sombody else's mistake" in response to his grandstanding attempts at being a father, be believed far too easily that she had been fooling around on her. He thought she was a slut, just like the rest of the school did. Rizzo came to TR from her bravest moment - choosing independence and struggle over compromising herself and her future to take the 'safe' route. That she goes back to him after finding her womb in the clear breaks my heart a little, even if the movie plays it like a great reunion.
What is this character’s greatest flaw?
She's internalized too many judgements about her to easily change her mindset in a healthy or productive way.
What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit?
She know of her own severe vulnerability, and thinks she hides it far better than she actually does under her "tough gal" exterior. There are cracks, and they're visible, and she doesn't ever want to admit they exist.
What is this character’s greatest asset?
Despite her tough-talking persona, she's remarkably honest. She doesn't steal, and she doesn't lie, and she doesn't actually want to hurt anyone - especially someone as vulnerable as herself.
If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be?
She'd be through and through the tough gal she turned herself into in an attempt to gain attention from her parents and craft a place for herself in a stereotypical 1950s world in which she doesn't fit.
What music does this character sing to when no one else is around?
If her canon is anything to go with, heartfelt ballads. When it comes to the kind of music she actually likes, it's the racier Elvis with his hip-shaking shenanigans.
In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith?
She's too cynical to have much faith in anything - she would have said the Pink Ladies, once, but they turned her over to the gossip mill during her pregnancy scare, and only Sandy asked if she needed any help. On the island she'd say Doc Paul - he's her entire family and lifeline here.
What is this character’s favorite movie?
She's gone to plenty movies at the drive-in, but never payed much attention to them. She liked the horror films the best - everthing else was too shmoopy and laughable. Since the island brought the whole Revenge of the Bodysnatchers scenarios to life, she likes them a little bit less.
Does this character have a favorite article of clothing? Favorite shoes?
Anything tight, dark, and as far from the pastel poodle-skirts and bobby socks of her classmates. Visual markers of difference have long been a stand in for her from what she considers to be her mental disconnect from the majority of them.
Does this character have a vice? Name it.
Drinking. Smoking. Unsafe sex, although she's gotten a bit better at that last one.
Name this character’s favorite person (living or dead).
At home - James Dean. On the island - Doc Paul.
What is this character’s secret wish?
That she could be loved and respected without confinement (marriage, strict gender roles, motherhood and housekeeping).
What is this character’s proudest achievement?
Getting a A in shop class.
Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment.
Losing her virginity - the guy already thought she was 'experienced' from her style and mannerisms, and she was only fourteen.
What is this character’s deepest regret?
Going steady with Kenickie.
What is this character’s greatest fear?
That she's going to end up imprisoned, cheated on, and alcohol-dependent like her housewife mother.
Describe this character’s most devastating moment.
When the whole school chattered about her being a knocked-up whore, and she belived them.
What is this character’s greatest achievement?
Unlike Sandy, Rizzo doesn't compromise herself to get her man. She would have somehow raised her bastard baby alone, despite her parents disowning her when they found out.
What is this character’s greatest hope?
That she can be unquestionably happy one day, and won't have to be alone without sacrificing any part of herself.
Does this character have an obsession? Name it.
What people think of her, which is ironic since a key facet of her tough gal persona is her 'devil may care' attitude
What is this character’s greatest disappointment?
That nothing she could ever do, no matter how outrageous or dangerous, could never bring her the attention or concern of her parents.
What is this character’s worst nightmare?
Being imprisoned, without choice, and forced to conform to the good girl 1950s image and lifestyle. Like the Stepford Wives, really.
Whom does this character most wish to please? Why?
Used to be her parents, as a child and her first few years as a teenager. As a high school student, it was the tough boys in the gangs that she emulated. On the island, it's Paul (again.).
Describe this character’s mother.
Miserable, bored, alcoholic, and often drugged out on Mother's Little Helper. She was pretty, once, but now she's like a frail doll that sits around in curlers and a robe flipping through Better Homes and Gardens magazine when she's not dazedly cooking or cleaning.
Describe this character’s father.
Womanizing, charismatic, and forgetful, with a trail of affairs with secretaries in his wake. A bank manager, he kept his family firmly in the realm of the middle class. Every once and awhile he remembered his wife and daughter, and showered them with gifts as a replacement for any actual care.
If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live?
With the Pink Ladies back home, and here probably with Tom and Paul, if she couldn't live alone.
Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have?
She's a single child, so without the companionship or responsibility of siblings. She's on her own against the world, in her mind.
Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives.
Her replacement family was the Pink Ladies, and, accordingly, the T-Birds. As gangs go, they're pretty low key, but she's always had access to cigarettes, alcohol, and oppertunities for poor choices. Frenchie, Jan, and Marty were the closest things she had to family and best friends - but even they threw her under the bus when she had her pregnancy scare.
Describe this character’s bedroom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXGcPYD-R-Y 1:17 - 1:30 for her room in canon (at least the animated version).