Like Vragon said, it honestly depends. Most of my casting is based on real life actors, like face claim wise. I usually try to pick an actor/actress who fits the scene and go along with it. Lately, I've been favoring the Panebaker sisters. I probably spelled that wrong. Anyway, I usually like to use one of my fangirl crushes as the love interest. Then, I try to base the older sister on my best friend because she's actually like an older sister to me. :3
Oh, wow. I thought I was alone in the whole actor template thing. I only do it because visualising original characters is a terrible uphill struggle, and often the only thing I can see is a blur with a hairstyle on it. Actors give a
lot of definition, huh? They've made me at least fifty times more productive.
Only thing is that they can be very hard to find. Girls especially. I've been scouring and they all lack that fundamental quality which makes for a great face. Its all in the eyes.
Back to the point, I'm a character piece writer, really.
All of the focus is on the characters. I'm terrible at plots and content, so that's how it's going to remain for a while yet. Specialising wholly in characters makes for a lot of jumps in progress, and I am usually interested by the people I create. A full cast always makes for a better story in my opinion.
What makes them interesting are the relationship dynamics, I suppose? An editor reviewed some of my work and said that the relationships were entertaining. Personally, I am fascinated with how people just... click! A light goes on. A bond is made. All of a sudden, you care for them and would give a damn if they died. It's not always a good thing just to make two characters click right away - if only so you can skip the angst and distrust - so I push it along until its right. Gradual. Steady. Familiarity breeds contempt, sure, but it can also foster a lot of wonderful sentiments. Personally, I click a
lot.
This all sounds very cliche, but yeah, it's all in the delivery.
I love vulnerabilities, also. They make for a lot fascination. No self-esteem! Gynophobia! Over the top optimism! A sore back! Little things, big things - it all adds up. And character flaws! I fucking adore them. Can't get enough. Characters with a lot wrong with them are always more interesting than the straight A student with glossy hair and an overabundance of compassion. Not over the top in terms of the old flaw-thing, though. That's never a good thing.
I wrote about the 'bad back' thing out of experience. You feel so prone and despairing. Someone touches your out-of-commission back and you're suddenly in wolverine mode. Hissing and spitting. All that. Accentuate the feelings involved and its actually a decent little thing for a character to have. Well, potentially. Do it wrong and they're just an injured emo drama queen.
I think I may have made a few detours and I can barely remember what the question was.