How to Create A TV Character and Develop Their Arc

Got an idea with legs, but you’re unsure how to utilize your plans for character development? You’ve come to the right place. We have a free character profile template as well as lots of tips on how to make your pilot pop with excellent character development.

There are a few things to think about when you’re delving into creating a character profile.

WHO?

It seems simple, but right off the bat we need to know who we're going to follow for the next 100 episodes. Let's start with our lead. Who are they on the outside? On the inside? What's the cast of characters look like and who populates the world?

WHAT?

Now that you know who's in the story, it's time to provide some backstory. What's happened to them that defines them? Do they have a secret past? Also, what's happening to them right now?

WHERE?

Are we in a border town in Arizona? Madison Avenue? Or Stars Hollow, Connecticut? Hey, Atlanta is a TV show about how its characters deal with an entire city!

When you're fleshing out your character development, take time to figure out how you can tell the deepest and most meaningful story possible.

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StudioBinder... The gift that keeps on giving !

[IVUSER]

You're seriously one of the best and most underrated film-related YTers

[TimothyJasonCarr]

You guys are amazing. From a filmmakers perspective, you are a big help and doing things others don't. Thanks.

[BubblegumCrash]

Ghost in the Shell had potential to be the greatest Sci Fi film since blade runner instead it was a beautiful boring paint by numbers film. It broke my heart because the original Anime was just amazing

[conniebarr]

Thank you so much for these useful templates.

[echoems]

your videos are extremely helpful! binge watching on your channel now. great content! 👍

[kiki.arielscrystalco]

Loved this! MM is such a great example to use!

I'm currently writing on studiobinder and came to youtube to research character creation. I clicked on the most appealing video and watched until the end, before realising you're the studiobinder yt channel! Haha. Not surprised, thankyou for all that you do, you are helping me immensely! Legends. 🙌

[corythurston]

My question is should you do a chart for each episode, season or one for the whole show?

[moniquejohnson]

I just started watching this channel today and I'm hooked. I have an undergraduate degree in tv/film production and want to become a developer of tv and film. This channel is awesome to help guide me in my writing which I've let go some years ago due to life happening, but this has always been a dream of mine to write/produce for tv/film!

[Jorge_Ambruster]

Already done with this character worksheet and it was really helpful. I had some ideas on how I wanted them to be and what they liked. But, by forcing me to write them and actually seeing their wants in the same page I was able to make their Dynamics much more interesting

[xx_furby_lover_xx]

I'm planning to someday create a tv show, I'm graduating high school next year and plan to study that field. Thank you for this

[JeffKomarow]

This video was great! You backed up your thesis with examples and it was interesting.

[amandamoresco]

This is an amazing resource that really helped me out! THANKS!

[Jetstreamhustla]

I need to do this before I develop story lines

[fakecubed]

It's weird showing clips of Game of Thrones in this one since the *book author* did all the hard work in creating the characters and story arcs.

[Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Thanks I'm 12 and I've always wanted to make a ninja tv show but I don't have animation stuff so I just use ninjago lego stop motion

[jonestornado]

Hahahaha. Who ever edited this deserves a raise! like 5:27 and 6:26. Pure gold. Thank you!

[skylarjuliana]

Would love a video on books you'd recommend film production students read

[rosecastaneda]

This video is very helpful! Thank you so much!

[storywala]

This is amazing help for aspiring film makers like me.