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FSV1STORY – Storytelling TechniquesWeek 7
Dialogue.
-what they say
-how they say
“‘wow’ is the power to affect change, make people listen!” (The Princess Diaries)
ELEMENTS OF DIALOGUE
Dialogue reveals character
-A character talks about himself or herself
-Other people talk about that character
You can build an entire character just based on the things you hear about. E.g. The Usual Suspects
Dialogue establishes relationships between characters.
-Characters express attitudes and opinions that are in opposition to one another.
Good effective dialogue will move the story forward.
Dialogue communicates faces and information to the audience.
-It conveys essential exposition.
-Characters will talk about what happened, establishing the story line.
Dialogue ties the script together.
COMMON MISTAKES
-Dialogue should be used sparingly, never telling the audience what they can see for themselves.
-Dialogue is no substitute for action.
-Dialogue should not match conventional spoken dialogue, “real talking”.
Points to Remember
Film is a visual medium.
A script is a story told in pictures.
Character
-A story starts with character.
-The character is the heart, the soul and the nervous system of your story.
-It is through your characters that the viewers experience emotion.
-It is through your characters that they are touched.
Without CHARACTER, you have no ACTION.
Without ACTION, you don’t have CONFLICT.
Without CONFLICT, you don’t have STORY.
Without STORY, you have no SCREENPLAY.
When developing a character, ask yourself:
-Who is my character?
-What does he want?
-What is he quest?
-What drives him to the resolution of the story?
