Character development

For my film opening the character development is important because the story is very emotional and based on tension in a relationship. The flim opening is only two minutes long so I have to show who the characters are through small details instead of long explanations.

The main character is the girlfriend. She is very observant and emotionally aware. She notices when something feels off and doesn't  ignore it. Even though she stays calm her facial expressions and body language show that she is starting to question the relationship and what is going on. I plan to show this through close-up shots of her reactions and scenes where she looks at him but does not speak right away.

The second character is the boyfriend. He is more closed off and defensive he also avoids eye contact and gives short answers. Instead of explaining himself he just shuts down emotionally. This makes the tension stronger because the audience can tell he is hiding something without it actually being shown or said.

I want both characters to feel realistic and not dramatic in an exaggerated way. Their development will come from subtle actions like turning a phone face down, pulling a hand away, or pausing before answering a question. These small choices will help the audience understand their personalities and the problems in their relationship.

-https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/character-development-for-writers-76109/