Talk:Jason Teague/@comment-4675595-20130606160144

"He uses John Travolta's role in Grease as his idol" Oh my god. I like this kid already.

You've got a pretty good foundation for a well-rounded character, but there are some points that are a bit contradictory. First he's described as charming, but then you say that he doesn't have very good social skills? Generally speaking, folks who are socially awkward aren't very charming, at least not until you really get to know them and they're comfortable with you (some of my best friends are like this). Seeing as he distresses over not being able to get a girlfriend, I'm guessing any charm he has is pretty well-hidden, so I wouldn't recommend describing him as "charming" right off the bat.

It's interesting that he has such a poor self-image and ignores the good traits he does have - it's very realistic. And the fact that he grew up rich but wishes he'd lived "on the streets" can be potentially interesting, if played out properly. Well-off suburban kids who wish they lived "in the ghetto" are typically really privledged and naive about the way the world really works, and fantasize that living in bad neighborhoods or being in gangs is cool and exciting. If Jason were to interact with a less fortunate student and get a little glimpse of what it's really like to be poor, that could make for a really interesting scene, and maybe help him grow up a little.

Also, what's his father's deal? Why does he get on his son for being a wimp? Is it just Jason's physical lack of strength that he dislikes, or his negative attitude, which can make him seem "weak"? Why does Jason want to prove himself to him at all?

All in all, this sounds like a well-rounded character, but the tricky part will be getting this personality to translate into the story itself. A good rule of thumb while keeping a character consistant from scene to scene is to keep in mind what he wants out of every scene. What is/are his short-term goal(s) for a scene, and what is/are his short-term goal(s) for the overarching story? What is he willing to risk to achieve those goals, and what won't he risk?

Hope that helps!