ABSTRACT
Great dialogue is not simply great lines or speeches, a stand-alone element that functions in isolation. It is part of a carefully crafted whole with every word enhancing, supporting, and progressing the characters, plot and intention of the entire piece. What’s more, dialogue must accomplish this while also entertaining, enlightening, and/or surprising the audience. In this chapter, we will consider a variety of approaches to writing strong talk for your characters, whether in film or television, or in the past or the present. For a solid example of contemporary dialogue in film, we will explore The Town. For contemporary talk in television, we will take a detailed look at an Emmy winning episode of Breaking Bad. For period or Western dialogue in film, we will focus on Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and True Grit. We will also consider the wit, attitude, and cynicism exhibited in some notable classic film scripts, including The Big Sleep, Sunset Boulevard, and Casablanca. Finally we’ll see how talk is action in When Harry Met Sally.
