Characters: How I See Them

Commonly, with a screenplay, a list indicating the cast of characters, with a brief (usually one-line) description of each, will be included.  As my script is based on the musical Hair, one would think there would not be such exposition, but in the world of Hollywood, all must be explained to within an inch of its life.  Some people have been asking me how my script will view the characters, and if they will take their cue from any specific production in particular.  Well, here's the scoreboard at present!



CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE TRIBE

• CLAUDE (HOOPER BUKOWSKI)........................ A long haired, blue-eyed son of America.  Pensive.  Romantic.  In another time, he would have been a film student at N.Y.U. with Scorsese; he wants to be a director.  Mark Cohen (from Rent) type.  Hung up on Sheila, but hints of something going on with Berger.
• SHEILA (FRANKLIN)....................... A pretty heroine; 19 years old.  Waist-length, straight, mouse-blond hair.  Unkempt.  Somewhat unclean.  Very bright.  The least dressy of all the girls, but pretty underneath it all.  Involved in protest marches and a student at N.Y.U.
• (GEORGE) BERGER....................... A wild-haired extrovert with a high level of consciousness; 18 years old.  Long hair.  Bright, funny, wild, but serious underneath it all.  Claude's best friend.
• JEANIE....................... A pregnant feminist in love with Claude.
• (NEIL) "WOOF" (DONOVAN)....................... A gay, cuddly teddy bear.
• HUD (JOHNSON)....................... A together black guy.
• DIONNE....................... A together black girl.
• CRISSY....................... A teeny-bopper romantic.  Loves the classics.
• Plus OTHER TRIBE MEMBERS drawn from a variety of ages, sexes, and racial origins.

I'm still struggling with how to portray the "adults" or "outsiders," but this is a basic snapshot of the Tribe as they stand in my eyes.