The continuity conversed

 

I know at what point this article is expected, isn’t it ? Because for the first time since you started working on your film, your idea will become a scenario. I sincerely believe that you’re right, you can be happy and proud of you. Because if you have followed the steps from the beginning, this part should go well. It is for me (and probably for you), the most exciting part. You will soon have your first jet through the continuity of dialogue.

But be careful, there are still traps to avoid. Sometimes in the frenzy of writing, the writer can get carried away. The board should always have in mind is do not talk about your characters to say nothing ! Or not to make them tell what is happening before the eyes of the beholder.

Example :

Leah is lying in her sofa. Leah coughs. It goes back, on it a large coverage, up to the chin. A thermometer protrudes from his mouth. Sophie between.

Sophie

Are you sick ? it will not ?

The viewer has understood very well that Leah is sick. The dialogue of Sophie is not thus used for nothing ! It is necessary only to talk about its characters if it is necessary or useful for the story.

Example of the passage of the Séquencier to the continuity of dialogue. Let us take the sequence 2 of the last article :

Séquencier :

Sequence 2 : Int – security Station – Day

Arthur looks at the control screens. The customers of the supermarket will come and go without suspecting that Arthur spies on their actions. Something catches his eye. It takes the joystick in one of his hands and zoom in on the crate number 12 : that where the young mother and her baby. Arthur grabs his walkie-talkie. He called Louis, his colleague, who is in the store. Arthur looks on the screen, but can’t find it. Louis tells him that he is the ray of frozen. Arthur presses the control buttons of the cameras and displays the radius frozen, Louis appears. Arthur sends Louis to see what happens to the caisse n°12. At the same time the phone rings. Arthur won, at the end of the wire to the cashier n°12

Continuity dialogue :

Sequence 2 : Int – security Station – Day

Arthur looks at the control screens. The customers of the supermarket will come and go without suspecting that Arthur spies on their actions.

Something catches his eye.

It takes the joystick in one of his hands and zoom in on the crate number 12 : that where the young mother and her baby.

Arthur grabs his walkie-talkie.

Arthur

Position for walker 1….

No answer…

Arthur

Position for walker 1….oh Louis !

Louis Off

Walker 1 I listen to

Arthur

You didn’t give a what ? where are you ?

Louis Off

I was following a guy but RAS, I am to the radius of frozen, did you need me ?

Arthur presses the control buttons of the cameras and displays the radius frozen, Louis appears on the screen.

Arthur

It may be nothing, but I find a cashier weird…she is standing in front of his crate…. Going to do a tour of the side of the case no. 12.

Louis

I’m going to post 1

the phone is ringing. Arthur picks up

Arthur

Post 1 I listen to

Mary

Post 1, it’s Marie…er..I mean the caisse n°12. I need someone there, need to call the fire brigade….this is the baby…

Arthur looks at it on the monitor. Mary is still standing there, phone screwed to his ear.

Arthur

Ok, someone will be there in a few seconds, keep your calm.

Arthur hangs up.

He presses his walkie-talkie.

Arthur

Extension 1 for Walker 1, dépêche – toi, is a big worry, I’ll join you.

Louis

5/5

Arthur comes out.

 

Of course this is an example to show you how one develops a sequence of séquencier in continuity. We do not speak of quality ;o)

For thatdialogue sounds right, you need to be able to put you in place of your character. Even if you’ve never been a cashier, a security guard, martian, spy…..What is important is to know what they feel. You have to emotionally put yourself in their place. For the business or condition, it is a work of research to see immersion that will bring the veracity of their professional behaviour.

In summary : To write good dialogue you should avoid :

– Do tell a character what one comes to see

– Comply with the level of the language of the character. A lawyer does not speak as a security guard ! a little girl of 4 years as a young woman of 25 years old, etc.

– Avoid the dialogue of the extension of the type monologe. The example of Leah sick. We saw very well that she was sick. It’s not going to make him say :

Leah

I don’t know what I have, I have a fever, my feet are cold. In addition, I can’t stop sneezing. So I’m sure that this is jean-phi, which to me has passed on, or it is the flu ! 40 fever…etc….

– Think that your characters speak like you and me.

Avoid turns of phrases too literary or too stilted action except if it is an aristo or that your film is set in a different time. In this case, you’re going to have to learn how to speak like the people of the time. But be careful, given the flavor of the day ! Otherwise this will give a film like Romeo + Juliet ;o)

– Also, avoid dialogues with too much slang at the risk of losing the reader. You can drag a few words, this will characterize your character. But don’t all the time.

So much for this article on the continuity conversed. You can now return to the plan of the site, to read other articles.

See you soon.

Tom Weil