Reasons to write your screenplay without a specific actor in mind

(unless you’re Chekov)

If you’re working on a screenplay whether it’s a feature or a short film that you plan on producing in the future, there are a number of pitfalls associated with writing a role for a specific actor, even if you know them personally.

Chekov wrote some of his plays for a theater ensemble. As a writer, this can give you a lot of advantages. When you are able to write for an actor you know personally, you know their quirks and you can write something to fit their personality. People we know can inspire our work. I feel like a lot of characters we write are a mix of ourselves and people we’ve met. If you plan on finding a producer for the script and don’t plan on making it yourself the pitfalls below won’t be as relevant for you.

If you plan on producing the script yourself, once you write the role with the actor in mind, you may not be able to see anyone else in that role

The actor may move away or not be interested in the project.

The writing and pre-production process can take a long time and when it’s time to go into production the actor may no longer be available.

I’ve written several scripts with different actors in mind.