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Apr 08

Writing Dialogue # 3

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

E-mail

Letters

Stories

Novels

 

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