Film Dialogue Guide [Definition and Examples]

Writing film dialogue
Writing film dialogue

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In this article, we look at an artful element of screenwriting that maintains a degree of mystery – film dialogue. Also, we include a few quick tips on what you should avoid.

Alfred Hitchcock famously criticized American films as “pictures of people talking.” While screenwriters should always opt to show rather than tell, learning to write film dialogue is an essential skill.

What is Film Dialogue?

Dialogue is a written or spoken exchange of words between one or more characters. Most narrative stories feature this verbal communication, which is often easily identifiable by either quotations in literature or dedicated spaces in scripts.

Film dialogue has various uses, though it is most often for the purposes of advancing the plot and building character. For example, it lets the audience learn more about a character, their history, feelings, and viewpoints.

Tricks & Craft of Writing Good Film Dialogue

First of all, it’s important to start with the function of film dialogue. Because each movie is uniquely different and adheres to specific genre conventions, there are different requirements and expectations for script dialogue.

Script dialogue is a tool to advance the story (characters have to speak to each other, after all). But dialogue should never be the key source of plot advancement. That is called expositional dialogue, and it sounds like this:

Troll 2 (1990)

Above all, good film dialogue enhances character.

Movies are about relationships. How does your main character relate to everyone in their lives and the world around them? What are their attitudes? How are these relationships tested along the way?

dialogue for film
Casablanca (1942)

When you know the relationships between your characters, it’s much easier to develop a natural report between them. Writing good film dialogue involves asking these questions:

  • Firstly, what is this scene accomplishing in terms of moving the story forward?
  • Secondly, what does my character want?
  • Thirdly, what are they going to do to get it?
  • Finally, what does it mean to them if they fail?

Film Dialogue Examples

Let’s review two scenes with characters that have very distinct relationships to each other and analyze how it impacts the script dialogue.

The Bad Seed (1956)

Rhoda Penmark is “the perfect little girl.” She’s also secretly a cold-blooded murderer. Her family’s groundskeeper, Leroy, enjoys teasing her. He’s a bit of a weirdo, but his teasing also suggests that he sees through her act.

This scene pushes the boundaries of their normal relationship – Leroy’s somewhat creepy teasing and Rhoda’s verbal jousts. Everything changes when Leroy unintentionally discovers Rhoda’s murder weapon that she used to kill a classmate:

Certainly, we see two very different characters coming into a head-on collision. Rhoda’s shocking and borderline violent demand for her shoes changes their relationship and advances the story with an unexpected development.

Another way to look at script dialogue is to map the emotions of the scene. Leroy’s sly, strange sense of fun rockets into glee and then cascades into shock and horror at the truth.

In contrast, Rhoda is dismissive, then condescending, and as she feels threatened becomes demanding and ultimately menacing.

As a result, those two sets of emotional ranges end up complementing each other.

Shadow Of The Vampire (2000)

In this wonderfully creative movie about the making of Nosferatu, legendary director FW Murnau casts the mysterious Max Schreck to play his film’s iconic vampire. Schreck’s secret? He really is a vampire.

In this scene, the terms of their agreement have been violated. Murnau believes he can control Schreck, and will do anything he can to complete his film. Schreck is content to collect more victims, but Murnau knows how to get what he wants:

So, what was surprising about that script dialogue?

Maybe it was Schreck’s unexpected vulnerability (“I won’t sail”)? Perhaps it was his fascinating question about how to destroy himself? What does that say about his self regard?

Another compelling aspect of the film dialogue is how Murnau seems to understand Schreck’s self-loathing.

Certainly, tempting Schreck with close-ups and stardom suggests he knows how to manipulate the creature.

Finally, threatening to cut Schreck’s scene with Greta – his object of desire – is a cruel touch.

Most noteworthy, the film dialogue stylistically fits within its genre. Doesn’t it sound like it came from those great old monster movies? Seems like Murnau could be a mad scientist in his own right, does it not? Almost as if it’s foreshadowing scenes to come?

Because these elements feel so organic – along with the surprising emotional ranges – this scene is fresh, intriguing, and entertaining.

TEARS

Writing Film Dialogue
The Terminal (2004)

Due to the fact that there are so many elements to film dialogue, a good way to test your work is to apply TEARS:

  • Take Us Deeper Emotionally
  • Enhance The Conflict
  • Advance The Plot
  • Reverse Expectations
  • Set Up Future Scenes

While script dialogue won’t satisfy TEARS alone, remember to use it as a valuable tool to achieve these goals.

Leroy’s sudden change in attitude when he realizes Rhoda really did kill the little boy reverses our expectations. His horror takes us deeper emotionally – we’re frightened by him.

Similarly, we can easily imagine what might happen after both scenes. Also, both have seamlessly advanced the plot. Most noteworthy, both enhance the conflict. There’s no going back after either of these incidents.

Notice how both the selected scenes also tested the characters’ relationships with each other? If you’re stuck on the plot or working out a scene, imagine script dialogue that puts a stress test on your characters’ relationships.

Reading Film Dialogue On Set

So what happens when it’s time to film and your script dialogue doesn’t sound as good as it did on paper?

This can happen on a number of occasions. A few might be:

  • The actor isn’t connecting with the lines
  • You’re out of time
  • The wind is killing your audio recording

When production issues force revisions in your script dialogue, focus on the key elements of your scene.

What is the information that must be conveyed? Even if it’s a few words, how can you make those words fit your character?

Conversely, how can you make it visual? Even body language and blocking can accomplish what you think had to be said.

Sometimes you just have to let your actor say their version of the line because that’s what feels right to them. When you’re in trouble with film dialogue, just remember the bare, emotional essentials. You’d be surprised how far they take you.

Author
Simon Nagel
Simon Nagel
Simon is a writer, adventurist, and alpaca enthusiast. He specializes in narrative storytelling, evocative dialogue, and multi-dimensional characters. Follow him on Twitter.
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