20 Question - Kaz Livingston

Time to go to work on Kaz.

1. Pretend you are walking down a street, and you see your character for the first time. Describe them in one word. No matter how far fetched or illogical this initial impact may be, it may prove invaluable. Use clippings from newspapers or magazines as illustrations of how you envisage your character by their ‘looks’.

Most women would react with "What a cute kid" so Cute would be the one word.

2. Take physical impressions next. The posture, stance, the stride and rhythm of movement. Possibly some body gestures, as well as bulk and density of physical build, as these will give some clues to their character as well.

Kaz has blue eyes and blond hair. Real clean cut kid of average build. He has a smile that really sells him as the "looker" of the bunch and he is very energetic, especially when he talks. He will tend to act out situations using his whole body to tell a story. He is not above physical harm to  himself in telling a story.

3. Are you reminded of an animal or object? However, be careful of clichés.

Shesh.  This is a hard question for all the characters. I don't know, how about a mouse. because he is very quick and very animated.

4. Can you sense or see a color to the character? Are they a bright person, or do they blend in with their surroundings?

Kaz would be a bright color. Like vibrant Yellow or some kind of day glow color. He is very animated and very outgoing. He always stand out in a crowd.

5. What kind of clothes does the character wear? This is usually a key to psyche and social status.

Very clean cut, Kaz wears his uniform with pride. He comes from a long line of men who attended the academy. Although overshadowed by Jake, he is really the most popular of the group.

6. The person’s voice. Tone and quality. Do they speak with an accent? What sort of words do they use? How do they say something, and what do they prefer to leave unsaid?

Kaz speaks perfect English and always like to be the voice of reason but he is not afraid to speak the truth in a way that people can take even the most harsh of criticism.

7. Where does the character live during the story? How does this affect them?

He shares the dorm room with the other three boys and occupies the bottom bunk below Jake. He seems quite happy with the arrangement.

8. Where and when were they born? What about their childhood? How does their background shape their personality?

Born and raised in Hollywood, Kaz was sent to the academy and has been friends with Jake since the first grade. Being the son of Hollywood star, Jennifer Livingston, he has never had an issue with money and is usually the money man for all of their schemes. being in the spotlight is nothing new to him either and affords him the ability to use his Hollywood looks to buy his way into and out of most situations.

9. Early influences? i.e. Parents/teacher/first love/hero? These can be a key to personality.

Kaz hopes to one day follow in his mom's footsteps even though his father hopes that he will go off and follow in his political footsteps. He and his republican father don't usually see eye to eye especially with him dreaming of a Hollywood career.

10. Decade. Does the one your character lives in influence them? Shape them or their style i.e. 60s. Do they accept the standard of their time, or rebel?

Like his Hollywood role models Kaz doesn't accept the way that society needlessly wastes our resources. But around school he is pretty soft spoken about his beliefs, going along with his crew. He sees school as mostly being about having fun.

11. What is the most important thing to the character? What do they want more than anything else? Do they daydream or fantasize at all?

Kaz is all about the Internet. Especially anything that gets his name and picture out there. Like Jake he always has his iPod with him keeping tabs on the latest Hollywood happenings.

12. What is their conflict? Is their conflict imposed by circumstances? Or have they created them? And who will settle them?

The expectations of his father is his biggest conflict and is something that Jake will help him overcome in the years ahead.

13. How far will they go to get what they want? i.e. steal or commit a crime? This may hook the reader by this ploy too.

Kaz has very big dreams but they are really just dreams. In reality he is unsure of what he really wants to do with his life. Hey he's only 11.

14. What does the character fear most? Will it keep them from achieving their ends?

Kaz is pretty go lucky. His only fear at 11 is that he would have to leave school and his fiends.

15. More revealing areas: Gambling/alcohol/money/love how do they handle competition?

Kaz has a healthy sense of competition, but handles it very well. it is the competition he loves and not who wins or loses.

16. How do they react to children, old people, foreigners and the sick?

He is actually very kind to others feelings and is usually the first to stick up for those that don't "deserve" to be picked on. Although he often has to hide it from his friends, he doesn't particularly like getting into trouble. He more enjoys the game than the actual sport.

17. How does the character shape the plot?  How does the plot shape the character?

Kaz is always in the lime light and thus is pretty much a part of every aspect of the show. He writes some of the scripts and often has the most screen time.

18. How does the character interact with other members of the cast? Who acts as their foil? Who contrasts or compliments them? And, who threatens them?

Kaz gets along with everyone. His foil would have to be Twitch who is the introvert of the group. The really only threat to Kaz is Rex Stimpleton, the school bully. He often like to pick on Kaz because of his wealth family but usually find protection from Jake.

19. Do YOU like or hate this character? What is desirable or negative about them? What are their faults? Mix and match light with dark, in much the same way a painter would.

Kaz should be a very likable character. He is cute with the million dollar smile, charismatic, and seems to have a genuine heart. The trouble he gets into should always come across as boy just being Boys no matter how bad the situation.

20. Finally, what is there to make the reader care about what happens to them?

The viewer should genuinely care about Kaz because of his uplifting spirit and sense of Fun. Kaz just sees the world as a good place and should reflect this view onto the audience.