Dialogue Imagine that Tony Stark (Iron Man) has just caught Dr. Bruce Banner (The Incredible Hulk) coming out of Tony’s private bathroom. What happens next? Write the scene on the handout. Don’t worry about format, just concentrate on what the two characters say to one another. Remember to speak in their character. You have 15 mins. You will be turning this in at the end of class.

What is Dialogue? It’s edited speech between characters. It’s everyday speech but with the boring parts taken out. (hey, whatsup, how’s it going, ) It is there to advance story or reveal character.

Avoid Reality Don’t write the way we talk everyday. The way people talk is free. The way people talk in movies costs money.

But that’s how people really talk! Don’t use: um, err, hey, look, listen, wassup, etc. People really talk to pass the time. But in movies the way people talk must be pointed and purposeful. Each line must advance the plot, encompass conflict or give us insight into character Anything else is wasting time and boring chit-chat

In one word Clint’s character tells us about his crappy Less is More! Say a lot with a little Prison Psychologist - “What was your childhood like?” Clint Eastwood - “Short” In one word Clint’s character tells us about his crappy disadvantaged, deprived, loveless upbringing.

Dialogue is used to Reveal Character Another way to make dialogue interesting is to use it to reveal the personality of different characters. To use it to develop the characters into 3 dimensional beings

Advance the plot Yes, we need the audience to know what’s going on in the movie, but don’t have your characters say what happens if you can have your characters show it. SHOW, DON’T TELL Luke, does not say, “I’m turning off my navigator! I’m going to use the force instead!” he just does it

Encompass Conflict In STAR WARS: A New Hope at the beginning of act 3, Luke argues with another pilot about the probability of pulling off the plan. The dialog reveals Luke’s optimism, lets the audience know how hard this is going to be, and is encompassing conflict, (the disagreement between Luke and the pilot)

No Stereotypes or Accents No Sitcom Speak Don’t have every character zing witty comebacks at each other as if this was an episode of Friends. No speech that can be easily dated. No Stereotypes or Accents Don’t have little kids say, “gosh, golly gee” Don’t have a southerner say “y’all” all the time