Some thoughts on dialogue:
If you talk about something, the energy dissipates.
If you don’t talk, it gets funneled into action, powers anger. The bad example is Clint Eastwood or Keanu Reeves out for revenge. The anger is funneled into a gun.
If you hold back what you really want to say, and then finally say it — it has power. The bad example is “What I was trying to say is I love you.” And usually that would be preceded by the opposite sentiment or action.
So when I think of movie moments that move me, it’s always the unexpected articulation of an emotion, because it’s never been articulated before and/or only the opposite has been articulated.
So one is not talking means you maintain energy/forward movement.
And not saying what you really want to say similarly powers the movie and gives you the potential for surprise or reversal.
A version of this is the "you can have a speech or say what you really mean only at the act breaks" rule. The better version is you say only ONE LINE rather than a speech at the act breaks.
Anyway, my goal is always to find the line that will turn the scene in a new direction.
My goal is to find the line that will RELEASE the emotion that has been pent up for the entire movie or act.
So sometimes it’s no talking up to that line
Sometimes it’s a lot of talking but the OPPOSITE of what you really want to say up to that line.
Try it and see
Because I love you. . .
Because I miss him. . .
I guess I don’t love you anymore.
Because I killed him. . .
You helped her? You weren’t supposed to help her!
Because I am your father, Luke
#movies #dialogue #screenwriting #playwriting #drama