Comments on: 10 Red Flags of The Amateur Script (2)

By: Christy

Christy — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:31:46 +0000

While I agree that dialog should be interesting I don’t necessarily agree that it can’t be straight forward. There’s a lot to be said for INTERESTING albiet straight forward dialog. Too many writers, particularly independent film makers who write their own scripts, go out of their way not to write “on the nose”. You’re left wondering if characters are talking to each other or the voices in their heads. I call these writers the “try too hards”. They throw in some distracting plot device every few lines just to keep the dialog “interesting”. (Do you really need to do three things in between answering a simple question in order to not be too predictable?) Personally I think writing great dialog takes a lot of talent. It should hum along in a beautiful, uncluttered way. Because lets face it, dialog can actually get in the way of the story! And trying too hard not to be boring can be worse than BEING boring!

By: David

David — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:57:54 +0000

I liked the article, for the most part. It was constructive, and should be helpful to beginners who don’t want to look like beginners. I can think of several famous exceptions to the part about too much “movie logic.” Why does the Nazi officer go to the airport by himself, when all through the film he’s been surrounded and guarded by other Nazi’s? It’s so the hero can shoot him and get away with it. But we accept it, because we’re involved in the story, and because we want the good guy to win.

I didn’t notice the missing Part Six, either, but it makes sense. There is no Part Six, because that would be too predictable.

By: Christa

Christa — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:11:18 +0000

Yay!!! Finally got to read Part II! I admit I’m struggling a bit with #10. But I’ve set them in 1691 Ireland, so a bit of it is the nuance of how people spoke in that time and place, coupled with wanting there to be more silence than dialogue in the short film. But I discovered early on that silence doesn’t necessarily move the plot forward! I just feel that the more they speak, the more wooden they seem.

*sigh* I’m working on it… :)

By: Karel Segers

Karel Segers — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:47:52 +0000

The original article on the ScriptShadow web site had 150+ comments and no-one noticed.

Then again, I numbered them. :)

In any case: sharp eyes, Mr Hopkins.

By: Clive Hopkins

Clive Hopkins — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:25:29 +0000

er, what happened to number 6?