Writing for Ensemble Casts: Balancing Multiple Characters

Characters make or break a script, making ensemble casts an added challenge to ensure every story arc and character doesn’t outdo one another. In this article, let’s discuss what to know about writing for ensemble casts and how you can balance multiple characters within your story.

Still from 'The Office (2005-2013). Photo credit: NBC

What’s an Ensemble Cast?

An ensemble cast refers to a group of characters in a play, movie, or television show whose roles are interwoven and equally vital to the overall story. The piece's success depends on the collective presence of all these characters, as the narrative would be incomplete without each one contributing to the whole.

The term ensemble refers to any group of artists performing together. It can also describe a collection of items considered a unified whole rather than separate parts. While the second definition typically refers to objects, it’s an apt way to describe an ensemble cast–emphasizing the importance of each character as part of a larger, cohesive narrative.

The Dynamics

Before diving into the practicalities of writing for an ensemble cast, it’s essential to understand the fundamental nature of such a group. An ensemble cast typically includes multiple characters who have their arcs, motivations, and relationships with one another.

These characters must be distinct, both in personality and narrative function, but they also need to work together to propel the plot forward.

The primary challenge in writing for an ensemble cast is to give each character the necessary screen time and development while ensuring that no one character overshadows the others.

In some cases, the plot or the world might act as the primary focus, with the characters’ arcs unfolding. This can create a complex web of interactions where every character plays a crucial role in the narrative.

Character Development

Each character in an ensemble needs to feel fully realized and distinct from one another in terms of personality, backstory, and goals.

The writer should avoid stereotypes or clichés that could reduce the characters to mere archetypes. Instead, focus on crafting nuanced individuals with complex emotions and desires. This complexity will allow each character to resonate with the audience.

Ensure that character development plays a key role in advancing your story. Every character should have traits influencing how they interact with other characters and engage with plot conflicts. However, they should avoid getting bogged down in excessive details like their favorite foods, movies, or obscure historical references.

Don’t overinflate your character's intelligence, inventiveness, charm, or other traits—without the foundation to support it. Never compromise your character’s integrity just to serve the plot or make another character appear firmer.

Write characters who take actions or say things you might not personally experience or believe. You don’t need to limit yourself to writing only what you know.

Feel free to break conventional writing rules—especially those often repeated by bloggers—if you understand the reasoning behind the advice and have a strong justification for deviating from it. Be prepared for criticism, whether your choice is ultimately successful or not.

Structure

In an ensemble, each character needs a distinct, recognizable trait that justifies their presence in the story. Since it isn’t centered on a couple of characters, you’re asking the audience to pay attention to a larger group, which can lead to your characters feeling like caricatures, a big no-no. However, this isn’t necessarily a negative outcome. It can work to the story's advantage if you embrace the tropes and dedicate sufficient time to each character.

For an ensemble, I’d recommend watching films like Nashville or Short Cuts by Robert Altman, as well as other ensemble works by him. Altman is a master at juggling a wide array of characters with varying complexities and backgrounds while also skillfully weaving their stories together in a way that feels organic and interconnected.

Interpersonal Relationships and Connecting Your Characters

Every story is ultimately about the personal conflict of the main character(s). The narrative's individual aspect makes the story resonate with readers, creating an emotional connection.

If we apply this to your story with an ensemble cast, an epic tale without intense personal drama, conflict, or stakes will likely feel dry–almost like reading a history textbook.

So, I would encourage you to begin by focusing on the personal conflicts of your characters and their interpersonal relationships—friendships, family relationships, romantic partnerships, and the obstacles they need to overcome. Once you've solidified that, you can move on to world-building and layering in the more significant, world-ending stakes.

Central Character - Do You Need One?

Many ensemble casts have main characters centered on more than others. These central characters shouldn’t be the primary focus but are usually what your story should return to regarding massive changes. However, that’s not to say you need a central character since plenty of films and shows don’t.

Examples of Ensemble Casts

There are many examples of successful ensemble casts in both film and television that showcase the balance of character development, interaction, and thematic resonance:

"The Lord of the Rings" (Film Trilogy): Each member of the Fellowship has distinct characteristics, arcs, and relationships, but together they form a cohesive team. The film's structure allows for each character to have key moments where they shine, contributing to the quest's success.

"The Office" (TV Series): The show excels at creating a large, diverse group of characters who all play crucial roles in the office dynamic. Through their interactions, personal lives, and comedic moments, each character is given depth, and the group contributes to the series's tone and message.

"The Avengers" (Marvel Cinematic Universe): With multiple superheroes from different franchises coming together, each character has its own backstory and distinct voice. Yet, the films balance these personalities by showing how their relationships evolve and how they learn to work together as a team.

Conclusion - Writing For Ensemble Casts

Ensemble casts are excellent if you want several storylines and worthwhile characters in your script. Though every character should serve a purpose, ensemble casts are an added trick to ensure the audience doesn’t feel bored with a plotline or character.