A short time later, I had the opportunity to interview Robert Towne, and during the course of our conversation I asked how he went about creating his characters, especially how he conceived Jake Gittes, the Jack Nicholson character. He replied that the first question he often asks himself when approaching his character is “What is this character afraid of?” In other words, what is his/her deepest fear? Gittes, a private detective who specializes in “discreet investigation,” has a certain reputation to uphold, so he always wants to “look good.” He does everything to make a good impression. He dresses immaculately, has his shoes shined every day, and has his own code of ethics. Gittes’s unspoken, deep-seated fear is not being taken seriously, looking foolish.