Hi everyone,
I have a bit of problem: I've written a piece of dialogue for one character and it runs almost half the page. Is that too long? Also, to make it less daunting a read should I split it up into parts using (beat) or interject some action in between? I can't pair the dialogue down because it's a very emotional scene where one character really opens and shares with another character.
Thank you in advance for the help!
Ethan
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IMO the longer the dialog the better it better be.
One of my favorite monologues is from SIDEWAYS. When Miles explains to Maya why Pinot is such a thing for him; he's really explaining, talking about himself. :) Anyway, I think it truly depends on the context, your story, your creative intention, the relevance of this moment, how well it is executed, etc. If you feel or sense as the writer that its length is a concern, perhaps see where you can trim it down some. Write it more tersely. Or if you feel it helps the flow, adds further emotion or tension within the scene, see if breaking it up seems a natural choice. It's up to you! Good luck!! :)
upload the scene and let peeps read it. Is it Mamet BRASS BALLS style or Budd Schulberg blue collar poetry?
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Filmmaking is at all times a visual art form, but an extended soliloquy may be useful in a limited number of situations. Actors are people too and dependent upon their skill level, they may/may not be able to carry the character thru the duration. It's always important to have action on the screen; I'd need to read the scene first, but I would likely block it in a layered format. I'd likely place the soliloquy speaking character in the foreground left third and use the right third background for some sort of related action. But that's just a guess based on no information.
Wow, thank you all for the help! It's much appreciated. I don't feel ready to share the scene at this point but I'll apply the tips you've suggested. Thank you again!
It depends but what is the character DOING while they are monologuing? You can break up the dialogue with actions unless the person is a politician standing at a pulpit.
If the character has a good reason to talk that long. Examples........ of your character is explaining something in depth to another. Or telling a story around a campfire . Telling a personal story to another character. Or if he is a lawyer telling the jury a scenario. Any of the previous reasons would have a valid reason to be uninterrupted. The story will dictate if something else needs to happen or if there could be a montage .
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As long as it needs to be. It should be achieving as many things as possible in the shortest time. Most people talk in bursts. They wait for confirmation from the other person. This normally comes in the form of "yep", "okay" etc. no confirmation response tends to make it a speech.
Ethan, think about what you want each character to get out of the scene. Then stop when you have achieved it. From what I am reading there seems to be heaps of neat on the bones. Get out as soon as possible. Think about "Return of the Jedi". Princess Leia tells Han Solo she loves him. He just replies "I know".
Craig is right, but you cut all (most of) the confirmation responses in screenplays, so this can turn some dialogue into monologues - which is cool. Actors like them.
Four eights is a long soliloquy without some action - I'm not sure I'd burn half a minute of film - you can easily lose your audience in that time.