10.Representation and Character Design

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Representation shapes how audiences relate to characters. In this blog, I explored the identities, backgrounds and emotional layers of my main characters and how these should be portrayed visually.

I began by breaking down each character’s:

• personality
• emotional arc
• social background
• symbolism
• conflicts
• relationships

Then I explored how to communicate these traits using mise-en-scène:

• Costume: colours, textures and styles that reflect personality
• Props: objects that reveal emotional states or backstory
• Lighting: bright for innocence, harsh for conflict, low-key for complexity
• Framing: close-up for vulnerability, wide for isolation

I also considered ethical representation. Audiences interpret characters differently depending on their cultural experiences, so I want my representations to feel authentic and respectful rather than stereotypical.

Character representation directly affects how my poster, trailer, and all promotional materials are read — making this research essential.