International Friendship Day; Getting it right in film
The International Day of Friendship is coming up on July 30th. We thought it’d be the perfect time to share some tips on portraying a realistic best friend character in film.
Friends are often the heart and soul of a protagonist’s life. The people sticking by your main character’s side, through the hard times and the good. Their dynamics give a relatable, and usually pretty grounding element to a film. When done right, on-screen friendships can leave an iconic legacy (think Shaggy and Scooby, Thelma and Louise, Timon and Pumbaa). So, here’s how to do it right…
A great script
A believable friendship comes from natural conversations. No-one’s referring to their BFF as their BFF, at least not directly to their face. A witty back-and-forth between a duo is something viewers can identify with - that thing that makes them go “hey look, that’s us!”.
Not just a side character
Consider giving them their own storyline and a life outside of the protagonist. Avoid reductive tropes, too. The nerdy friend there to remind us how cool the lead is, a token gay BFF or the best-friend-must-die rhetorics are all tired. While representation is important, it needs to be done right. Make sure to avoid these 5 diversity mistakes highlighted by bang2write.
Friendship is a two-way street
It’s not all about the main character - your protagonist should also be there for their friend. Whether it’s offering sage advice, a shoulder to cry on, or actively making time to help out with their problems, the lead needs to give something back to their best friend. Otherwise, we loop back to bestie-as-a-side-character.
Introduce conflict
As in real life, friends in film will not always agree. The important thing is that the issue is always reconciled. It’s better to make an actual point of this, rather than having the problem be swept under the rug. Sprinkling in some conflict prevents the friendship from seeming unrealistic, and it can remind the protagonist (and the audience) of the stakes at hand.
Connection is key
Just like when casting a romantic relationship, there needs to be some chemistry between the actors. Genuine connections off-screen translate to super buyable friendships on-screen. Try to make sure your actors have that je ne sais quoi - or that they can at least fake it (they’d have to be really, really good actors, though).
Opposites attract
Although they should have similar interests or something they bonded over to begin with, contrasting characteristics complement each other nicely in a friendship. Including a bit of an opposites attract dynamic makes for a more interesting viewing experience, and it helps sell the conflicts, too. Shy vs outgoing, hot-headed vs calm, sunshine in human form vs the grumpiest person you’ve ever seen… there really are so many great options.
Get to it
Think you’ve got the next great on-screen duo down? Give the SMASH pitch builder a try and start developing your plan. We’d love to hear your idea, whatever stage it’s at!
Smash media can help pair you, a newbie brimming with talent, with the right decision-makers. We’ll also gear you up to become a content creator who really knows their stuff. Up for the challenge? Get your pitch started today!
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