Film dialogue: how to harness the power of your characters’ opinions.
Film dialogue is like paint on a car. It’s the last thing that’s put on but it’s the first thing everyone notices.
And most of the time, people know good film dialogue from bad film dialogue… but if you ask them why one line is good or one line is bad, they probably won’t be able to tell you.
There’s no point talking about really bad film dialogue since any writer with any talent won’t make their characters sound like Tommy Wiseau. No, it’s far tougher getting your film dialogue from fine to great.
There’s plenty of wit and characterization involved to be sure, but there are some fundamental choices you can make that will help eliminate one of the most dreadful curses known to screenwriters: on-the-nose dialogue.
Great film dialogue is about talking in code.
Confused? Don’t worry. When it comes to screenplay character development, there’s a great trick that can put you on the path to writing strong film dialogue:
Have your characters say something without saying it directly.
It may sound ridiculous, but if your characters need to talk about how one of them is a jerk… don’t bluntly have one of them call the other a jerk.
Instead, have them discuss something that demonstrates their views and shows that character being mean or having mean opinions.
Film dialogue example from Midnight Run.
A great example of this is in the film Midnight Run. Jack, an ex-cop turned bounty hunter, is hauling a Jonathan (a white-collar criminal who stole from mob boss Jimmy Serrano) from New York to LA so he can collect a huge bounty.
While they’re having dinner on a train, instead of Jonathan starting the conversation by bluntly telling Jack he’s a bad guy… he starts by grilling him on his dietary choice of fried chicken which, of course, is really just a metaphor for his life in general.
Let’s take a look at the ensuing film dialogue:
If they were actually straight-up talking about Jack’s life situation, this wouldn’t work. But since they’re talking about fried chicken… and it’s great film dialogue.
The conversation reversal.
Even better, Jack then turns the conversation around on Jonathan, calling him out on stealing millions from a mob boss and giving it to charity:
By reversing the conversation, we not only get necessary back story and exposition, but we get it in a way that’s steeped in character interplay.
The reversal of power in the scene switches from Jonathan to Jack by turning the first half of the conversation on its head.
Taking beats from the first half of a conversation and then flipping them later in the scene is a great trick that not only makes the characters seem witty but also makes the moment more dynamic.
Harnessing opinions instead of bald facts in film dialogue.
But we’re not done yet. Right after Jack’s zinger, Jonathan responds:
Notice that when Jack is giving us exposition about who Jonathan stole from, he’s not simply stating facts. He’s giving an opinion, which is key to making things sound natural.
That’s what makes this film dialogue feel like a real conversation instead of an exposition dump: Every time someone gives information there’s an emotion attached to it.
And following that information is another scene reversal, this time with Jonathan reclaiming the position of power in the conversation by leading Jack to talk about his estranged family… which are very important parts to the story and his character arc.
What are the underlying motives of your characters’ dialogue?
The best part of all this is there’s a reason for Jonathan to talk to Jack and ask him all these questions: he’s trying to get Jack to like him so Jack will let him go.
That tension between the characters is the heart and soul of the film and it’s made from these conversations. And none of them seem on-the-nose.
The takeaway here is that while exposition in dialogue is tough it’s not impossible. And characterization is at its best when you show it in film dialogue rather than tell it through blunt lines.
If you want to give information to the audience have it be in the form of an opinion. If you want to characterize someone through movie dialogue, express that character to the audience by having them talk about something in a way that demonstrates who they are.
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This article was written by Ashley Scott Meyers, a screenwriter and podcaster. How do you make your film dialogue sound real? What do you think of the techniques outlined in this post? Let us know in the comments below!
Enjoyed this post? Read more on how to film dialogue…
Script Dialogue: If Your Characters Are Just Talking You’re Doing It Wrong
On the Nose Dialogue Examples and How to Stop It Killing Your Script
How to Write a Screenplay: The Secret to Elevating It Above the Ordinary
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