What's in a name? For these iconic characters, presence matters more than a credit listing.When we retell stories from our own lives, we can sometimes remember every detail except the names of all the people involved. Names shape our identities in reality, but in storytelling, they function more as garnish than substance. Nice to have, but not essential unless deployed as a metaphor or motif.Since "Wait, what was their name? Anyway..." appears constantly in everyday storytelling, names can feel like formalities when developing screenplay characters. In this article, we examine iconic characters who show that character names become irrelevant when you possess a commanding presence and compelling character arc.10 Iconic Characters Who Didn’t Need a Name to Become Memorable1. The Narrator, Fight Club (1999) Fight Club (1999)Source: 20th Century Fox Studios David Fincher’s Fight Club was way ahead of its time. The narrative follows the Narrator, who meets a man named Tyler Durden on a flight. They become friends, after which his life changes forever. Not revealing Edward Norton’s character's name was a genius move on Fincher’s part for multiple reasons, the most prominent being that the narrator is suffering from dissociative identity disorder. Since name is an elemental difference between any two characters, the narrator's lack of one metaphorically establishes him as the host personality. At the same time, keeping the character nameless heightens suspense. 2. The Ghost, The Ghost Writer (2007) The Ghost Writer (2007)Source: Pathé, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lionsgate Canada, Studio Canal, Summit Entertainment, StudioCanal UK How fitting for...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 20 November