Writing Compelling Dialogue for Film and TV: The Art & Craft of Raising Your Voice on Screen

by Loren-Paul Caplin

Overview

Writing Compelling Dialogue for Film and TV is a practical guide that provides you, the screenwriter, with a clear set of exercises, tools, and methods to raise your ability to hear and discern conversation at a more complex level, in turn allowing you to create better, more nuanced, complex and compelling dialogue.

The process of understanding dialogue writing begins with increasing writers’ awareness of what they hear. This book provides writers with an assortment of dialogue and language tools, techniques, and exercises and teaches them how to perceive and understand the function, intent and thematic/psychological elements that dialogue can convey about character, tone, and story. Text, subtext, voice, conflict, exposition, rhythm and style are among the many aspects covered. This book reminds us of the sheer joy of great dialogue and will change and enhance the way writers hear, listen to, and write dialogue, and along the way aid the writers’ confidence in their own voice allowing them to become more proficient writers of dialogue.

Written by veteran screenwriter, playwright, and screenwriting professor Loren-Paul Caplin, Writing Compelling Dialogue is an invaluable writing tool for any aspiring screenwriter who wants to improve their ability to write dialogue for film and television, as well as students, professionals, and educators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367256869
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/02/2020
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Loren-Paul Caplin has written feature films and TV scripts for studios and independents, including Paramount, Universal, Sony, and Fox Searchlight. He teaches and has taught screenwriting at Columbia University, NYU/Tisch Department of Dramatic Writing, The New School (where he co-authored the Screenwriting Certificate Curriculum) and Hofstra University. He also wrote/directed the feature, The Lucky Ones (Tribeca Film Festival, 2003) and short film The History of the World in 8 Minutes (New Directors/New Films Festival, MoMA) as well as several plays, and has done commentary for Criterion Collection and is a screenwriting consultant.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part I: On Dialogue 1. Understanding Dialogue 2. Illuminating Character Through Dialogue 3. Types of Dialogue 4. Voice Overs and Narrations 5. Platforms Part II: Tool Kits for Improving Your Dialogue 6. Tool Kit - Writing Dialogue 7. Tool Kit - Specificity 8. Tool Kit - Writing Singular Characters 9. Tool Kit - Naturalistic Dialogue, Themes and Exposition Problems Part III: Exercises: Better Hearing and Voicing Your Characters 10. Accessing Character and Application 11. Better Hearing 12. Voice Exercises Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'Caplin's extensive screenwriting and teaching experience nourishes this exceedingly useful guide. Whether screenwriters are just starting out or looking to perfect their skills, his tool kit is filled with elements that sharpen what he rightly calls ear tuning. This book illuminates not only text, but context and subtext.'
Annette Insdorf, Film Professor, Columbia University

'Dialogue is the key to unlocking character. Loren-Paul Caplin’s book is a key to unlocking dialogue. Nothing is worse than listening to bad dialogue. It makes your skin crawl, your hair burst into flames, and your ears fall off. Caplin’s book will help you save your audience a lot of pain and suffering.'
Jim Kouf, Writer (Grimm, National Treasure, Rush Hour, Money Monster)

‘Perhaps the toughest part of writing a compelling screenplay is creating dialogue that sings. In this excellent introduction, Loren-Paul Caplin provides aspiring screenwriters with a powerful set of tools to take on their journey to effective storytelling.’

Jonathan Wacks, Founding Director and Professor at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Brooklyn College and former Chair of the Visual and Media Arts Department, Emerson College. (Credits include: Powwow Highway, Repo Man, 21 Jump St.)

‘Among the sea of how-to books for screenwriters, Loren-Paul Caplin’s stands out for finally giving dialogue its due. Systematic and succinct, Writing Compelling Dialogue provides the kind of toolkit that puts inspiration within reach. The entertaining examples and exercises will make your fingers itch to start writing.’

Rob King, Professor of Film and Media Studies, Columbia University

From the Publisher