WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTER? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The environmental character is one who acts in the movies as an extra or part of the public during the filming of a scene. This type of character has the mission of generating an atmosphere within the drama.

They generally do not have lines or dialogue within the film script; however, your presence is very important.

They appear as part of the public attending a football game, as passers-by on the street or passengers, the ice cream man in the park, the diners at the adjoining tables in the restaurant, the guests at a party, among others.

Main characteristics of the environmental character

The environmental characters fulfill the function of giving color and atmosphere to the film. They are part of the public that surrounds the main or supporting actors.

They are the members of the anonymous cast of the film, who appear during filming to give life and naturalness to a scene.

Its main characteristic is that, despite appearing within the scene, they do not participate directly in the action, but are in the background, humanizing the film as the story unfolds.

They also serve to characterize or recreate a place or environment in the film; for example, a baseball game, a party, a mass, or a street fight. In this way, the film is given more realism and the viewer understands the plot better.

Although they are extras, they should not be confused with extras who act as doubles for the central character or protagonist in stunts.

Examples of environmental character

In the following films and also in novels the environmental characters appear:

Action movies

The characters that appear on a battlefield as troops or in a western dressed as cowboys or Indians during a confrontation are also atmospheric.

These characters are previously hired or invited to participate in the filming to better stage and give realism to the film.

Vintage movies

With the help of period characters, the historical moment of the film or series is recreated (the Middle Ages, ancient Rome, the Stone Age, etc.).

They are the vassals or the people that appear in squares, streets or tribes, who, helped with their costumes, expressions, makeup, etc., accentuate the realism of the film.

Comedy movies

The audience that appears at a party dancing along with the central characters of the film.

Drama movies

Spectators who take part in the scene of a football, baseball or rugby match cheering for a team or also as passers-by on the street of a big city, are also ambient characters.

Novels

In this genre of television, ambient characters also act. For example, as part of the guests at a party scene where a protagonist acts or in the middle of an assembly.

Characters from a movie

In addition to the environment characters or extras, within a film the cast is made up of a series of actors and actresses that vary in number according to the theme, focus, plot, location, etc. of the film. According to their importance, they are classified into:

Protagonists

They are the main actors who characterize the central characters of the film. They are in charge of carrying out the most important actions.

Supporting actors

They are the supporting actors or secondary characters who act alongside the protagonists in secondary roles but no less important for that.

Incidental or Episodic Characters

These people limit their participation to one or two scenes during filming. Through them a topic is exposed, ordered or related.

References

1. Types of characters. Retrieved on December 14, 2017 from humanozoo.blogspot.com
2. Jo Kelly. The Truth about Being an Extra: How to Become a Good Background Actor. Retrieved on December 14, 2017 from googlebooks.com.ve
3. Literary Characters. Consulted of her.itesm.mx
4. How to watch a movie (The characters). Consulted of cineddhh.org
5. Importance of cinema in education. Consulted of w.uhu.es
6. Movie Terminology Glossary. Consulted from imdb.com
7. Extra (acting). Consulted of en.wikipedia.org