10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn From Something Wild

4. Make Your Characters Likable

Aside from juxtaposing Charlie to Ray, who doesn't appear until the second half of the film, the filmmakers go to great lengths to make Charlie a likable character. The best way they achieve this is by making him caring and kind. Sure, he's the kind of guy that walks out on a check, but he's also the kind of guy who reads someone's name tag and calls them by it, just to make things "a little friendlier." The detail of the name tag is something I might have reacted to on a personal level rather than an academic one, but after working in retail before, during, and just out of college, I can't remember anyone ever looking at my name tag, let alone calling me by name. It's not something I took personally at all. In fact, it sort of instilled in me a fear of using the name tag to address an employee. Even a waitress who greats their table with a, "Hi, I'm Emily. I'll be your server" is hardly ever addressed with anything more than a "Excuse me!" That's what makes this such a wonderful detail for Charlie's character: Not only does it show he's trying to be friendly, but he's doing it in a way no one who ever worked any of those jobs would think to behave. He's trying to be friendly, but this outlet for his friendliness underscores his character's naiveté and social isolation. These servers would much prefer a customer who leaves a tip to someone who calls them by name, but he's just trying to be friendly. This detail opens up another element of story: The well-meaning kindness Charlie puts into the world finds ways to return to him throughout his journey. Aside from Lulu, who obviously detects his soft harmlessness immediately, the story is filled with kind characters who also seem to recognize something in Charlie and are there to help him when he needs it.