The backstory is a device screenwriters use to shape and develop a character. It is a narrative which describes the environment and specific events that have shaped the character and will lead to the actions in the story.
The backstory comes before the story. If you write a backstory for your character, then you will know how this character is going to act and react in any situation. Backstories provide a logic for the character's lifestyle and motivation for his or her behavior once the story begins.
The backstory is generally written so that it ends as the script story begins. In other words the conclusion of the backstory introduces the situation in which the character finds him/herself at the beginning of your screenplay.
Your character's backstory will generate more information than you will need to begin your story, but it will provide helpful details you can incorporate along the way. Think of the information you generate about your character as an onion with many layers; as the story progresses, you can peel the onion to reveal the layers.
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