steadyrighteous
Veteran
What do you mean by "further dialogue"?
The Coli's Screenwriting/Filmmaking Thread [Share tips, etc]
- Thread starter CEITEDMOFO
- Start date
What do you mean by "further dialogue"?
I often times draw a blank when i'm giving characters what to say in a scene i'm doing comic book scripting
steadyrighteous
Veteran
Maybe try to not think about it as dialogue, but think about it like this:
What is the point that you (or the character) want to get across, then write that down. It probably won't be actual dialogue, but at least you get the sentiment down.
A writer that wrote on Community talked about something they call I think "spit drafts" on a podcast once, where you just write it bare bones with the characters intentions rather than their real words.
John: I want some p*ssy
Kate: I don't want to give you any yet, I don't want you to think I'm a ho.
John: Giving me p*ssy doesn't make you a ho
Becomes...
John: Why don't you come upstairs... I can make coffee, we can talk, just... hang out.
Kate: I don't know. It's late, I've got work, plus we don't know each other that well...
John: Well, we can get to know each other now, how about that?
Maybe you could try something like that?
Maybe try to not think about it as dialogue, but think about it like this:
What is the point that you (or the character) want to get across, then write that down. It probably won't be actual dialogue, but at least you get the sentiment down.
A writer that wrote on Community talked about something they call I think "spit drafts" on a podcast once, where you just write it bare bones with the characters intentions rather than their real words.
John: I want some p*ssy
Kate: I don't want to give you any yet, I don't want you to think I'm a ho.
John: Giving me p*ssy doesn't make you a ho
Becomes...
John: Why don't you come upstairs... I can make coffee, we can talk, just... hang out.
Kate: I don't know. It's late, I've got work, plus we don't know each other that well...
John: Well, we can get to know each other now, how about that?
Maybe you could try something like that?
interesting solution therelisten to people talk when you're out in public
remember people don't usually say exactly what they mean
read dialogue you've written out loud
anyone who has written feature lengths... how long are your outlines?
My longest one in the past was 18 pages. I'm working on one now, 3 scenes into act 2 and I'm on page 14 already. I'm not even inserting random dialogue and shyt like i usually do. i asked a guy the other day and he said his last outline was 60 pages, which i thought was insane, but im probably gonna end in the 40s
My longest one in the past was 18 pages. I'm working on one now, 3 scenes into act 2 and I'm on page 14 already. I'm not even inserting random dialogue and shyt like i usually do. i asked a guy the other day and he said his last outline was 60 pages, which i thought was insane, but im probably gonna end in the 40s
I never outline, but 60 sounds insane. Whatever works for you.
btw, read your script a while back (enjoyed it) and been procrastinating on the notes
going to refresh my memory and try and get them to you by the end of the week.
forgot all about that. good looks.I never outline, but 60 sounds insane. Whatever works for you.
btw, read your script a while back (enjoyed it) and been procrastinating on the notes
going to refresh my memory and try and get them to you by the end of the week.
man i can't even consider attempting anything unless i have a folder on my HD full of documents/outlines/recordings of myself from my phone,etc. i think i enjoy that process more than the finished product b/c it always seems much better when you're just fukkin around and spewing
yeah that's why a lot of my ish fizzles out around the 2nd act. Working on some new stuff now and trying to make sure I have enough outlines/treatments/bios etc. to keep me going through the rough spots
Lanny Piffo
Pro
I like writing biographies for the main characters.The more you know about them the easier it is for each one to get his/her own voice and perspective. I keep writing until it feels like a real person. Just makes dialogue easier for me.
here's a template i got in a writing class that i always did for my main charcters prior to writing...
1) Character Name:
2) Height:
3) Weight:
4) D.O.B.:
5) Birthplace:
6) Hair Color:
7) Skin Color:
8) Marital Status:
9) Religion:
10) Race, nationality:
11) Economic Class:
12) Appearance (clean, sloppy, pretty, etc.):
13) Posture:
14) Scars (physical, mental, emotional):
15) Educational Background:
16) Occupation:
17) Best friend, and why:
18) Other friends:
19) Enemies, and why:
20) Parents:
21) Parents occupations:
22) Strongest and weakest character traits:
23) Sees self as:
24) Is seen by others as:
25) Frustrations, chief disappointments:
26) Temperament:
27) Extrovert or introvert:
28) Type of sense of humor:
29) Ambitions:
30) What the character wants in the story and why:
31) What is keeping him/her from getting it:
32) Hobbies:
33) Skills and talents:
34) Favorite music:
35) Favorite books:
36) Favorite movies:
37) Place/time where character lives:
38) Favorite color:
39) Biggest secret character holds:
40) Most unique aspect of character:
41) Do I like/dislike character and why:
42) Reason character is least likely to achieve goal:
43) Sex life, moral standards:
44) Present problem in story and how it will get worse:
45) Person character is in love with:
46) Does this person love character back and why:
47) Greatest fear:
48) Stupidest thing character has ever done:
49) Greatest regret:
50) Why YOU love this character:
how would you do an outline
just write out what you want in every scene. There's a feature in Final Draft, but really it's just a word document style template.
Mine are pretty messy I'd say, but I try to just note everything I want to see, hear, imply, etc. Go scene to scene, act to act... So I'd just basically spew...
ACT ONE
1. BEDROOM
CONZ (description) sits red-eyed staring at a computer screen. Set up his situation. This is his life. He's on a message board and bytching about something mundane and pointless. His bed looks like it hasn't been made in months, his hair hasn't been combed in days, etc. He hits "post" with an unwarranted flourish and stands satisfied. "Epic pwnage" accomplished. (NOTE - Get this all down on page 1, no longer)
2. KITCHEN
Conz pours himself half a box of cereal. He miserably takes bites while cringing at the cartoons in the newspaper. (Random dialogue - he sighs loudly, "Part of a complete breakfast...") Conz's phone rings, he doesn't even attempt to look, etc... (Touch on his past here somehow. i.e. Show a photo of him and an ex girlfriend haphazardly stuck to his freezer door <-- not that, something better)
i don't care about the actual writing in the outline, I probably use the same adjectives over and over, I have tons of offhand thoughts in brackets, some dialogue i like, etc... b/c lets be real, at this point, no one is asking for, or will see my outline.
Bob Loblaw
Superstar
anybody write spec scripts? the last one i wrote i didnt label the acts but figure i probably should in the future. thoughts?
PlayerNinety_Nine
Produced, Arranged, Composed and Performed by....
This is a really cool list - I subconciously asked myself a lot of these questions while writing and it's interesting how much it makes the characters pop
