How can you create flow and contrast in your dialogue?

A full three years after the first instalment (and one of our most popular), Stu and Chas have kidnapped Stephen Cleary to once again develop some craft tools around dialogue. It would be fair to say that - in that time - all three have learnt a lot more about dialogue than they knew in 2016. It would be also fair to say that Stephen perhaps learnt a little more through his research into "genderlect".

In Part II, we analyse key scenes from films and TV shows famous for their dialogue, namely FLEABAG (Season 2, Episode 5), JUNO and DEADWOOD (The Pilot). The biggest tools we explore are: the hook and eye; how dialogue can reveal status and empathy; rhythm; contrast and affinity; and pacing.

And just to help us all out, Stephen rounds out the episode with some quick fire examples - FIVE EASY PIECES, JERRY MAGUIRE, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, and NOTTING HILL (again) - and further dialogue tips.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode during the holiday season.

RUNNING ORDER

Intro/Groundwork
Status and Gender (@ 05:52)
FLEABAG (Season 2, Episode 5) by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (@ 15:26)
- WATCH: Hair Is Everything — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97iIDx-b7U
- JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/fleabag
JUNO by Diablo Cody (@ 47:41)
- WATCH: Juno Tells Her Parents: — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWC-R-q85JU
- JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/juno
DEADWOOD (Pilot) (@ 01:20:20)
- WATCH: Seth Bullock Hangs a Man in Montana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtgjwmYgTOg
- JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/deadwood
More Dialogue Tips and Techniques (@ 01:40:55)
- WATCH: Jerry Maguire "Show me the money" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTFJocQBLyE
- WATCH: Grosse Pointe Blanke "You can never go home again" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgLr6qlpec4
- WATCH: Notting Hill "Kitchen Scene" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQShHQuPwI&t=93s

EPISODE LINKS

LISTEN: DZ-31: Tools for Better Dialogue (Part 1)
WATCH: Five Easy Pieces "Side Order of Toast" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38maVb_30ng
FOLLOW: Stephen Cleary
JOIN: Stephen Cleary Workshops
READ: Genderlect / Language and Gender
READ: The Truth About How Much Women Talk — and Whether Men Listen

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DZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue 2 - Hook and Eye

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast