Script Analysis: “First Cow” — Part 3: Characters
A week-long analysis of the script for the lauded indie movie by writer-director Kelly Reichardt.
Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:
Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown
Tuesday: Plot
Wednesday: Characters
Thursday: Themes
Friday: Dialogue
Saturday: Takeaways
Today: Characters.
Characters are the players in our stories. They participate in scenes, move the plot forward through action and dialogue, influence each other, evolve and change. Each has their own distinct backstory, personality, world view, and voice. When a writer does their best, digging deep into their characters, tapping into their souls, the players in our stories magically lift up off the printed page and come to life in a reader’s imagination.
But there’s this: In a screenplay, characters exist for a reason. Hence my principle: Character = Function. Writers can shade and shape a story’s character in limitless ways. But if you dig down deep enough, you can find each character’s narrative function, and that can become a lens through which you develop the players in your stories.
Same thing with script and movie analysis: Look at each character and think about why they exist and what their function is.
This week: First Cow. You may download the script here.
A list of the key characters in order of appearance:
Otis “Cookie” Figowitz
King-Liu
Thomas
The Cow
Chief Factor
Captain
Chonachona
Screenplay written by Kelly Reichardt and Jon Raymond, based on Raymond’s novel.
Plot summary: A skilled cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business.
Writing Exercise: Think about each character. What’s their respective narrative function?
Major kudos to Laura Bolton for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.
To download a PDF of the breakdown , go here.
For Part 1, to read the Scene-By-Scene Breakdown discussion, go here.
For Part 2, to read the Plot discussion, go here.
I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week’s script: First Cow.