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Characters with a pseudonym

8 years, 2 months ago - Corinne Foster

Quick query on characters who take on another character partway through a film, please. She is working somewhere under a pseudonym. While she is at work, should I use the new character name, put both in, or keep her original name throughout? Thanks for any advice you can give.

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8 years, 2 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

Slightly tricky. If this is in Final Draft and intended for production then the cast list will create two characters especially when exported to Movie Magic for the budget. Why not name her MARY/ANN but make it clear in the Dialogue and Action which she is once or twice early on and perhaps she confides in someone else if the audience needs to know. Does she also disguise so this is also being kept from the audience? I'm always at franz@imperialfilmproductions.com if needed.

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc SHOW

8 years, 2 months ago - Glyn Carter

If the audience knows she's the original character, keep the same name. If she needs a different persona and it's not clear, you can put (eg) "Mary steps out in the gladrags that show she's Ann tonight" or "Mary (as Ann) slaps his face". And you could put MARY (as Ann) in the character's dialogue slug.

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - Glyn Carter SHOW

8 years, 2 months ago - Corinne Foster

Thanks both - that's a great help! Good advice

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - Corinne Foster SHOW

8 years, 2 months ago - afia nkrumah

I would write in the character heading
Jane/scarlet pimpernel

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - afia nkrumah SHOW

8 years, 2 months ago - Stephen Potts

It's worth looking at how this has been done before. Best example is probably "Tootsie." Dustign Hoffman's character, a thwarted actor, is MICHAEL. When he shows up in drag for a female part he is DOROTHY. We, the audience, know it's him from the start - the other characters don't.

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - Stephen Potts SHOW

8 years, 2 months ago - Stephen Potts

It's worth looking at how this has been done before. Best example is probably "Tootsie." Dustin Hoffman's character, a thwarted actor, is MICHAEL. When he shows up in drag for a female part he is DOROTHY. We, the audience, know it's him from the start - the other characters don't.

Response from 8 years, 2 months ago - Stephen Potts SHOW