Chase, of course, was Ryan's creation. His inspiration for him was a fellow named John something, he's quite talented and you've likely seen some of his work online - like the songs where he plays four different parts. Originally just a picture was used for inspiration on Ryan's part - he didn't actually tell me anything until after the collage for Alec's Best Friend was done.
Ryan always wanted his characters to come from 'middle class' families. It was something he and I always argued about because his middle class was pretty damn well off, in my book and from where I came from.His middle class folks were well educated and had jobs where they were in charge of things, usually. Chase's family, however, didn't even have a last name (I don't think) until Hamster - or not an identified one. Either that or I forgot or blocked it out. Ryan and I sometimes disagreed about names.
Anyway, the real groundwork for Chase and his family was created during our discussions for the development of Hamster - a note from one of Ryan's early feedback emails (and you can see, we're past the being nice part) and my responses in italics:
As for Hamster, I really like it. You write Chase well. That said, a couple of things. Chase and Austin are first cousins, wouldn't they look, not exactly alike but I think it would be interesting if they had some similar features. Like maybe Austin's hair and eye color are different but they have the same facial structure or something. Just a thought.
They may have some similarities. I'm going to adjust Hamster's description a little to go with the pic I have in mind. They are both blond. I can look at some pics of that guy and try to draw a few things.Why are you being so hard on Jamie? So he swears like a sailor, he's just a little boy he's not a monster or anything. He's more precocious and hyper than anything else.
I'm not a fan of little kids and bad language. It's the Republican that lurks deep within me. It comes out when I see little girls wearing next to nothing as well. We had a foster daughter this summer who showed up with all kinds of 'barely there' clothes and I was like, not leaving my house dressed like that! Also, to be fair, that's really all you've given me to work with in terms of Jamie. I haven't explored him at all - I've references his boyish barbarism and his bad language.And then there's Kale, why is Austin so rough on him? In the beginning, at the burger joint, Kale is pretty nice to Austin and even helps him with the joke he's playing on that girl by looking at her. I'm not saying Chase would be defensive but I think he'd say nicer things about Kale. Those two are really in love. I liked what you said about Chase knowing how to reach his gooey parts, that was cute.
LOL You hate it when I pick on Kale. The direction I'm coming from is I have this image of him always frowning, like it's his default. Would you say that is different now? Or is he still prickly and prone to have his yearbook quote be 'Get off my lawn!'. Also I'm trying to use it as a tool that Chase uses to help Austin in not writing off people, that sometimes you can find good things if you take the time to look past the surface as he did with Kale.I'm looking forward to their shopping trip.
Oh, Chase would never try smoking.
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Ryan was also not much of a drinker. And, with respect to Kale, Ryan's response kind of proved my point:
I hate it when you pick on Kale because you ALWAYS pick on Kale. He's not a Bond villain, he was a scared kid who went through a rough time and is trying really hard to be a better person. Cut him some slack. Yeah, his typical expression is something of a scowl but when someone does get him to smile it's almost as bright as Chase's. I would say his yearbook quote would probably be "Bah,Humbug!" But I like "Get off my lawn!" LOL
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We explored how Chase would have grown up and decided that he'd be something of an opposite to his parents. I'm pretty sure I was the one that made Carol a bitch, but also that she adores her son. I think that the choice of making George a dentist was Ryan giving them that middle class treatment and I'm not sure we laid down a profession for Carol until 'Is This Where I Leave You'. With Hamster being a bookworm to escape his reality, reading was the link to both George and Derek. At the time I was reading a sci-fi novel, and thus that's the series he and George end up discussing.
As the series progressed we tried to maintain Chase's bubbly personality, while letting him grow as a responsible foil for Kale and place him on the same mental level as Sasha. While Alec and Kale were both a bit blind to their feelings and how to handle them, Sasha and Chase were more geared toward discussion and figuring things out. This is why Chase and Sasha have their heads together, frequently, and why you see Chase in a more 'parental' role when it comes to others. I always thought Chase was somewhat practical, too, despite his bubbly nature - it would be easy to dismiss him as a caricature of an airhead otherwise - and he displays it with his talk with Austin in Road Trip. Specifically in the ways he sees and deals with the unusual relationship that has formed between he and Kale with respect to Alec and Sasha.
