When I used to teach screenwriting I created a sample list of activities that script writers could use to keep their dialogue from being a TV talk show with the only images being faces – talking heads.
The temptation is to have the characters meet in a restaurant and talk while they eat (which presents difficulties for continuity of action and difficulty for actors who have to continue to eat all day while the scene is shot from different angles). A second solution is to have them go somewhere visually interesting, a beautiful view, a zoo, or a tunnel in a walk-thru aquarium, etc. A third option is to have the characters take a drive in or on a vehicle and hold the conversation during the drive.
All three of these still produce talking head scenes. A better choice is to have the characters doing something (or at least one of them doing something) while the other watches and perhaps takes notes or moves around the active character during the conversation if not actually participating in the activity.
Here’s that list. Please note, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list but merely some suggestions of actions to make dialogue scenes more visual.
Applying suntan lotion to self or other character
ART
Painting
Sculpture
Woodcarving
Barber/Beauty shop visit
BUILDING
Addition to home or office
Campfire
Deck
House
Tent
BUYING
A coke
Candy
Bottled water
Lotto ticket
CAR
Cleaning inside
Maintenance/tuning
Rotating tires
Painting
Washing
Waxing
Casting a spell
Changing a diaper
CLEANING
Attic
Boat
Cabin
House
Bathrooms
Making beds
Mopping
Sweeping
Vacuuming
Garage
Pool or pond
COOKING A MEAL
Kitchen
Barbecue
Campfire
Committing a crime
Cutting or coloring hair
DEALING WITH OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Xerox
Fax
Computer program
Doing laundry, dishes, housework
Doing physical exercise
Drinking
Driving
Eating a meal
EDITING
Audio
Film
Video
Electrolysis, bikini wax
EXERCISE
Boxing
Karate
Running
Swimming
Trampoline
Walking
Weights
Yoga
FEEDING
Child
Pet
Livestock
Fishing
Gambling
Gardening
GETTING
Body piercing
Fingerprinted
Massage
Photographed
Sworn in
Tattoo
GROOMING
Another person
An animal
Self
Hanging a picture
Having sex
HOBBY
Computer/video game
Developing/printing pictures
Model building
Model painting
Netting
Puzzles
Stamps
Scrapbook
Taking pictures
HOME MAINTENANCE
Laying carpet
Laying tile
Painting
Plumbing
HUNTING
Birds
Large game
Interviewing for a job
MEDICAL
Exam
Operation
Reports
Mixing drinks
Mowing lawn
Moving
Packing
PLAYING
Cards
Chess
Music
PRACTICING SPORTS
Batting
Golf
Skeet
PROGRAMING ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Cell phone
Tivo
Thermostat
ARRANGING
Clothes in closet
Dishes in cabinet
Dishes on table
Furniture
Food in cupboard
Rescuing someone
Shaving
SHOPPING FOR
Car
Clothing
Groceries
Electronics
STANDING IN LINE FOR
Tickets
Documents
Checkout of DVD, food, gas
TAKING DRUGS FOR
Recreation
Chemotherapy
Death by injection
Training an animal
Voting
WASHING
Boat
Car
Clothes
Driveway
Windows
Sidewalk
WORKING ON A HOBBY
Butterfly collections
Coin collection
Photography
Stamps
Wrapping presents
WRITING
Books
Diary/journal
Letters
Stories
Novels
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