Why do the lead characters use different names?
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a film of Quentin Tarantino. It weaves "multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age."
In the movie, Leonardo DiCaprio's character name is Rick Dalton and is based on actor Burt Reynolds, similarly, Brad Pitt's character name is Cliff Booth and is based on stuntman and filmmaker Hal Needham.
For the other actors and their characters, they use the exact same name as the actor based on.
- Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate
- Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen
- Bruce Dern as George Spahn
- Emile Hirsch as Jay Sebring
- Luke Perry as Wayne Maunder
- Damon Herriman as Charles Manson
- Austin Butler as Charles "Tex" Watson
the list continues...
So why did they use fictional names for DiCaprio and Brad Pitt? or why didn't they use the same name as the actor based on?
Best Answer
The characters played by DiCaprio and Pitt are 'inspired by' (not exactly based on) Reynolds and Needham in an entirely fictional, almost tangential way. Reynolds and Needham had no involvement in Manson or the events that transpired. These two fictional characters are placed into the true story of the Tate murders (well, Tarantino true).
The other actors are playing characters actually based on real people and their true story (again, with liberties taken by Tarantino, I'm sure); thus their characters are named after those real people.
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Why do actors play characters with their own name?
In drama an actor is trying to convince they audience that they are a particular character, in situation comedies the lead is often selling the audience on their own personality and style. This format is also a product of translating stand up comedians to TV.Why do they change names in movies?
Sometimes it's done to try to boost ticket sales, other times it's an attempt to shake off the stink of a box-office bomb when the DVD hits shelves. And in some cases it's due to copyright infringement or because a title that works overseas makes no sense in the United States.What is the significance of a characters name?
But it's important, because naming your character helps your reader build up a picture of who the character is. Novels, films, and TV series often reference the name of the principal character in their title \u2015 think about \u201cJack Reacher\u201d, \u201cEndeavour\u201d, \u201cPoirot\u201d.Why do some actors have and before their name?
An actor may receive "last billing", which usually designates a smaller role played by a famous actor. They are usually credited after the rest of the lead cast, prefixed by "and" or "with".How to Name Characters
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