Dialogue: Overview

Dialogue is the backbone of every movie. It needs to be believable. It has to define a character without explicitly doing so. It must advance the plot and be entertaining as well.

Good dialogue is no easy task.

Anyone can write what we call dialogue — the words that are spoken by a character. The ability to write compelling, sharp, witting dialogue is a gift. Some writers have a natural talent for it that makes them stand out. For the rest of us, the craft of writing good dialogue can be learned with an ear.

An ear for dialogue.

Defining good dialogue is a tricky. It must be heard out loud. It must be experienced within the context of a film. When you’re typing out a script, how do you know if your dialogue has that magic ring to it? The ability to hear words in your head is what people mean by “an ear for dialogue.” Like music, if you’ve got it, good for you. If you don’t, you can learn to develop your ear. It takes time and practice, but it is the heart and soul of screenwriting.

Dialogue is conversation. Conversation is not dialogue.

In a screenplay, dialogue represents the conversation between the characters in that story. It must feel real to the listener. In order to achieve this effect, the conversations you write into a script are in no way like everyday conversation.