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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting
Ad-Lib Dialogue?
The question is: >>When indicating simultaneous dialogue, where Person A's dialogue may be actually scripted and important to the "play" of the scene, but Person B's is simply ad lib ranting gibberish (the specific facts/exposition therein are,nevertheless, important), what is the best screenwriting solution to this situation? Basically I want two scenes played out in one scene. A split column assigns more importance to Person B's dialogue than is necessary.<<
[nq:2]What is the solution (and does it rhyme with "Change ... fast-talking (apparently) ad lib style of films from the 40's.<<[/nq]
ALL dialogue is scripted. You can't adlib in a script - the reader isn't going to have any witty comebacks while reading...
And even that stuff that sounds ad-libbed is really scripted. It's just good dialogue. Those 40s scripts, like HIS GIRL FRIDAY, are completely scripted. That film was based on a play called THE FRONT PAGE (filmed a few times under that title) and if you read the play, all of the dialogue is there on the page.
And it's not in two column form - it's just written as standard dialogue with one person cutting off the other.
The writer's job is to put words into the actor's mouth. They don't make them up on their own - not their job (though they always claim to have made up any line that gets a laugh - I remember Eddie Murphy claiming to have ad-libbed all of his lines in 48 HOURS... except I own the script and all of the dialogue is right there on the page).
If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stge.
- Bill
[nq:2]What is the solution (and does it rhyme with "Change ... fast-talking (apparently) ad lib style of films from the 40's.<<[/nq]
ALL dialogue is scripted. You can't adlib in a script - the reader isn't going to have any witty comebacks while reading...
And even that stuff that sounds ad-libbed is really scripted. It's just good dialogue. Those 40s scripts, like HIS GIRL FRIDAY, are completely scripted. That film was based on a play called THE FRONT PAGE (filmed a few times under that title) and if you read the play, all of the dialogue is there on the page.
And it's not in two column form - it's just written as standard dialogue with one person cutting off the other.
The writer's job is to put words into the actor's mouth. They don't make them up on their own - not their job (though they always claim to have made up any line that gets a laugh - I remember Eddie Murphy claiming to have ad-libbed all of his lines in 48 HOURS... except I own the script and all of the dialogue is right there on the page).
If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stge.
- Bill
Top answer
Excellent. I'll get it in there as you say. I appreciate the quick response.
- Excellent.
- I'll get it in there as you say.
- I appreciate the quick response.
- If there's anything you need to know about stalling, procrastination or screenwriting book references, let me know:)
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4 Answers
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Excellent. I'll get it in there as you say. I appreciate the quick response. If there's anything you need to know about stalling, procrastination or screenwriting book references, let me know:)
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[nq:1]The question is: >>When indicating simultaneous dialogue, where Person A's dialogue may be actually scripted and important to the "play" ... dialogue is right there on the page). If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stge. - Bill[/nq]
Caveats -
If you have an actor like Robin Williams it's gonna happen and it might be genius.
Several movies have been made in recent years
Caveats -
If you have an actor like Robin Williams it's gonna happen and it might be genius.
Several movies have been made in recent years
00
[nq:1]ALL dialogue is scripted. You can't adlib in a script - the reader isn't going to have any witty comebacks ... of the dialogue is right there on the page). If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stge.[/nq]
Ricky Gervais was on "The Daily Show" last week. Jon Stewart said something about the "improvisational genius" of the clip he'd just shown from "Extras."
Gervais practically crin
Ricky Gervais was on "The Daily Show" last week. Jon Stewart said something about the "improvisational genius" of the clip he'd just shown from "Extras."
Gervais practically crin
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[nq:1]Excellent. I'll get it in there as you say. I appreciate the quick response. If there's anything you need to know about stalling, procrastination or screenwriting book references, let me know:)[/nq]
Hey! Stalling and procrastination is *my* department!
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
Hey! Stalling and procrastination is *my* department!
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
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