The Key Differences Between Character Development in Film vs. TV: What Every Actor Should Know

Understanding the differences in character development for film and television is crucial for any actor who wants to work in both mediums. While the fundamentals of acting remain the same, the way characters evolve and are portrayed in each format can be quite different.

Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Film Character Development: In film, character arcs are usually more defined and condensed. The actor must convey their character’s transformation within a two-hour window. Every scene in a film serves to develop the character further, and there’s little room for wasted moments. This means you need to make quick, impactful choices to show how your character changes from beginning to end.
  2. TV Character Development: In television, character development is more gradual. Characters evolve over episodes or even entire seasons. This gives actors the opportunity to pace their performance and reveal different aspects of their character over time. However, this also requires consistency—you must maintain your character’s core traits while adapting to new situations and challenges introduced by the storyline.
  3. Pacing Your Performance: In film, your character’s development is often mapped out from the start, but in TV, scripts can change week to week. You must be prepared to adjust your approach while ensuring your character remains authentic. Flexibility and a strong sense of who your character is at their core are key.
  4. Maintaining Continuity: One of the challenges of film acting is that scenes are often shot out of sequence. You might shoot the final scene before the first one. As an actor, it’s your job to maintain continuity—knowing where your character is emotionally in each scene, even if the shooting order is out of sync.

At Actors Habitat, our On Camera Level 2 class teaches you how to handle character development in both film and television. You’ll learn how to pace your performance for long-term TV roles while maintaining strong, quick arcs for film.

For more intensive training, the One-Year Film Actors Conservatory prepares actors to adapt to the different demands of film and television acting, ensuring you can deliver consistent, engaging performances in any medium.

Sign up now to learn how to navigate character development for both the big screen and the small screen.