Read on, Isomer... my friend has a story to tell...

Character alone will not make for a film, the character is who he is, because of a story. You must reach inside your character and find that story and then tell it. How did this character become who he is and where is he? It may be a personal story that even he doesn't want to retell but, THAT is your film. Carnival is a dark place, filled with the glory of the stage and the pits of real human existence that include family and other bad places... tell that story. You said that you didn't want his dress to be as that pictured but, I get the impression- that is a costume he may wear reluctantly yet is a big part of his reality.

To find a character that deep, you must look inside yourself to find him... good luck.

OptikNerve --

Yes, that's exactly my thinking. I am a huge fan or Cirque du Soleil and the characters they use in their live shows and would like to do something along those lines, although maybe in an imaginary world, of course.

I had originally thought of doing something along the lines of these lyrics:

"The yellow jester does not play
But gentle pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the crimson king."

(from "In the Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson)

But that dang ol' Nick Hilligoss beat me to it!

Clowns always mix well with dark sinister roving gypsy bands....that way you can set your story anywhere you want as they are a mobile unit! just a thought...i liked your clown idea

Sounds great man! More power to ya! Looking forward to seeing your progress.