After the exercise of 'character's favourite object' where we had to bring an object that was very close to the character's heart and had a distinctive meaning led to a new side of my character 'Polly'. I chose to have a mug that said 'make do and mend', with being a writer, endless amounts of caffeine to keep away the stress and aid creative juices was a necessity, so a mug seemed an obvious choice. However, as I began to explain the importance of it, I chose to give Polly a much more layered background. Her determination to succeed with being a rebellious 30something can't have come out of no where. So I chose for her to have had a previous long term relationship that ended badly. This then gave her a clear reason and motive to do something about it, to give her career choice a clear purpose and drive. Again it developed that she put alcohol into her mug mixed with her drinks as she continued her day, but brushed over the topic. A hint of a hidden alcoholic maybe? Her determination to pick herself up from her sudden end to what seemed to be a perfect life and break the stereotype as it failed her actually was the thing that she couldn't bare.
I didn't want the choices to be too overdramatic that they took her out of being an ordinary person. But the reason behind it was to make Polly a far more detailed person with all sorts of hidden traits and facts about her, a person isn't simple, life throws up all sorts of cards. And so I thought these decisions made her far more 3D, not being too obvious about her real self, putting on a front like most people do. And as I began to add things to her, it made her far more interesting to play, and hopefully more interesting to talk to and watch.
These decisions then impacted the trip out with the public. Again, I wrote down the experience like a mini monologue:
Well, today I did something different, went to a local supermarket with two ladies I'd only briefly met at night school, hooray. Charlotte and Violet. Both single, instant release of breath, so there wasn't any awkwardness having to be overly chirpy for someone else's blossoming love life. I didn't really go for any particular reason, it was just nice to have a day plan, if that even counts, not stuck in that studio flat surrounded by endless blank pages needing to be filled out. But alas, today provided me with a window of opportunity for my next column. Instead of continually having to rely on my own choices I can use theirs! Of all the isles to venture down, I knew I had to visit the booze section. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally about not caring of judgement, but that's when I'm in the comfort of my sofa, typing away on the laptop where my actions from the previous night are confined to a single page read by strangers probably on a moving train. But two women you've barely met seeing you increase in desperation to go to the alcohol section at just past 12 could throw up problems I don't want to hear or face. All of a sudden, Violet picks up a bottle of Smirnoff off the shelf, yes, with all the intention of buying it. Relief. Instant relief.
Again, when we were sat in the waiting room before the speed dating commenced, I wrote again Polly's thoughts before it started. I didn't have much time so only a little was written:
Well, here I am, waiting for my speed dating extravaganza to commence. Not entirely sure why I'm here to be honest, had a cracking night last night, running on two hours sleep. Was thinking, maybe this could be a new column? Yes! How to do speed dating half off your face. Oh crap, crap crap crap, bollocks and crap, we're being filmed...
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