Maurice Broaddus @mauricebroaddus Characterization Through Dialogue #WXR18
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
What is key to dialogue? 1. Pay attention to how people speak.
Exercise: record a family conversation and transcribe what people say. Different generations, ages, backgrounds. Start to see how people talk. eg Gilmore Girls, Joss Whedon, Quentin Tarantino
What is key to dialogue? 1. Pay attention to how people speak.
Exercise: record a family conversation and transcribe what people say. Different generations, ages, backgrounds. Start to see how people talk. eg Gilmore Girls, Joss Whedon, Quentin Tarantino
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
2. Good dialogue only evokes how people really talk. You don’t want to write how people really talk (um, uh, cussing). Straddle the line between how people really talk and how we wish they’d talk.
2. Good dialogue only evokes how people really talk. You don’t want to write how people really talk (um, uh, cussing). Straddle the line between how people really talk and how we wish they’d talk.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
3. Make each character’s voice distinct. Their backgrounds will do this to a point. Characters are going to mirror each other in conversation. Characters also code switch in different situations and environments.
3. Make each character’s voice distinct. Their backgrounds will do this to a point. Characters are going to mirror each other in conversation. Characters also code switch in different situations and environments.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Dialogue vs. Conversation. Conversation is any exchange of information. Dialogue is conversation always pointed towards solving a problem or reaching a goal. Characters don’t talk just for the sake of talking. Tool to achieve their goals.
Dialogue vs. Conversation. Conversation is any exchange of information. Dialogue is conversation always pointed towards solving a problem or reaching a goal. Characters don’t talk just for the sake of talking. Tool to achieve their goals.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Dialogue brings a character to life, ratchets up tension, brings to a climax. a) moving the story forward. b) giving information (Fine art of exposition). c) contributing to characterization.
Dialogue brings a character to life, ratchets up tension, brings to a climax. a) moving the story forward. b) giving information (Fine art of exposition). c) contributing to characterization.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Exposition is a horrible use of dialogue, usually. it has to be in service of action. Maintain the promise of the hook. Remind people of information they may have forgotten, though people don’t generally have conversations about things they already know
Exposition is a horrible use of dialogue, usually. it has to be in service of action. Maintain the promise of the hook. Remind people of information they may have forgotten, though people don’t generally have conversations about things they already know
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Everyone has an agenda. Dialogue is gamesmanship. Dialogue is more about hiding than revealing. Dialogue is a form of interrogation. We’re people: we manipulate the conversation to get to the result we want.
Everyone has an agenda. Dialogue is gamesmanship. Dialogue is more about hiding than revealing. Dialogue is a form of interrogation. We’re people: we manipulate the conversation to get to the result we want.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Using dialogue to create tension. Tension is a diffuse, general state of anticipation. Suspense is a specific anticipation between clearly opposed outcomes. - doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.…
Using dialogue to create tension. Tension is a diffuse, general state of anticipation. Suspense is a specific anticipation between clearly opposed outcomes. - doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.…
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
When using conversation to create tension: define the overarching conflict: What is the stake in this scene? Hold suspense/tension: 1) stability gets broken. Set characters in opposition to each other; 2) loss of control, 3) build and stretch
When using conversation to create tension: define the overarching conflict: What is the stake in this scene? Hold suspense/tension: 1) stability gets broken. Set characters in opposition to each other; 2) loss of control, 3) build and stretch
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
An implied threat delivered with a smile creates more uncertainty. There’s no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it (Hitchcock). You must let the audience have the information. The longer you go, the more suspense turns to dread.
An implied threat delivered with a smile creates more uncertainty. There’s no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it (Hitchcock). You must let the audience have the information. The longer you go, the more suspense turns to dread.
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Using dialogue to help create subtext. Three dimensions:
- text: words out of their mouth
- subtext: emotional charge of an idea, the meaning beneath the words
- context: circumstances before, during, after, power dynamics, worldview
Using dialogue to help create subtext. Three dimensions:
- text: words out of their mouth
- subtext: emotional charge of an idea, the meaning beneath the words
- context: circumstances before, during, after, power dynamics, worldview
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Subtext is what do your characters want, and what do they feel about what they want?, lack of it leads to on-the-nose dialogue where characters say exactly what they feel. You want to have the audience put the pieces together so they are more invested
Subtext is what do your characters want, and what do they feel about what they want?, lack of it leads to on-the-nose dialogue where characters say exactly what they feel. You want to have the audience put the pieces together so they are more invested
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Exercise 2: talking head first draft
Conversation between characters A & B. No dialogue tags (setting, said, asked)
- Determine their initial relationships
- Choose an argument topic
- Identify their literal feelings
- Imply those feeling through dialogue
Exercise 2: talking head first draft
Conversation between characters A & B. No dialogue tags (setting, said, asked)
- Determine their initial relationships
- Choose an argument topic
- Identify their literal feelings
- Imply those feeling through dialogue
.@mauricebroaddus #WXR18
Exercise 3: talking heads round 2. Add context clues. Setting: does setting add to conflict, convey mood, Movement: people react, nervous habits, tone, etc., convey body language, Nuance: create contradiction between words and body language, Speech tags
Exercise 3: talking heads round 2. Add context clues. Setting: does setting add to conflict, convey mood, Movement: people react, nervous habits, tone, etc., convey body language, Nuance: create contradiction between words and body language, Speech tags
Q: What do you look for to indicate dialogue is stilted?
@MauriceBroaddus: too many dialogue tags may indicate the voices isn’t strong enough/interchangeable. When boring, add a joke or insert something that’s completely sideways.
#WXR18
@MauriceBroaddus: too many dialogue tags may indicate the voices isn’t strong enough/interchangeable. When boring, add a joke or insert something that’s completely sideways.
#WXR18
#protip from @MauriceBroaddus: if your characters keep sounding like each other, kill one of them off. Brutal. Problem solved! #WXR18
Q: How not to make characters telling stories to each other feel like an infodump?
@MauriceBroaddus : Wrong author to ask! Buffalo Soldier is characters telling stories. As long as the story is interesting, revealing bits of character and helping to prop up the theme. #WXR18
@MauriceBroaddus : Wrong author to ask! Buffalo Soldier is characters telling stories. As long as the story is interesting, revealing bits of character and helping to prop up the theme. #WXR18
Q: any opinion about banter during fights?
@MauriceBroaddus: Comic books have suspension of disbelief. Authentic fight scenes are too short for banter. They still have to reveal character and motivations, probably not dialogue. #WXR18
@MauriceBroaddus: Comic books have suspension of disbelief. Authentic fight scenes are too short for banter. They still have to reveal character and motivations, probably not dialogue. #WXR18
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