Words in Action : Forms and techniques of film dialogue.
Title:
Words in Action : Forms and techniques of film dialogue.
Author:
Braga, Paolo.
ISBN:
9783035108293
Personal Author:
Edition:
0
Physical Description:
1 online resource (233 pages)
Contents:
Cover -- Contents -- Introduction: The perfect dialogue -- The different role of dialogue in theatre and in cinema -- Sight is fast and reliable -- Stage-to-film adaptations prove the importance of terseness -- Three functions of dialogue in film -- The aim of this book -- Acknowledgements -- Chapter 1: Dialogue and conflict -- Dramatic dialogue and its features -- Dialogue is action -- Dialogue pushes the story forward -- Dialogue is dynamic -- Dialogue has deep implications -- Dialogue has structure -- Dialogue is succinct -- Dialogue has a climax -- Dialogue changes the fate of the character -- Dialogue surprises -- Dialogue tends to follow a set pattern -- Three scenes -- Munich. "Mazeltov" -- Lethal Weapon. "You really like my wife's cooking?" -- The Best of Youth. "Then let's get you signed out!" -- Direct attack and sudden backlash -- The counterattack -- Dialogue, conflict and values -- John Adams. "My sons..." -- Chapter 2: Dialogue and subtext -- Dramatic subtext -- Why use subtext -- Reason one: it reflects real life -- Reason two: subtext creates tension -- Reason three: subtext holds an audience's interest -- Reason four: subtext can be acted out -- Two kinds of subtext -- Deep subtext -- The Next Three Days. "Goodbye" -- Strategic subtext -- The West Wing. "We're gonna get the names of the damn commandments right" -- Non- shared subtext -- Manipulation -- The irony of fate -- Crash. "Is there a problem, Cam?" -- The Lives of Others. "I am your audience" -- Chapter 3: Dialogue and exposition -- The problem of exposition -- The screenwriting techniques to solve the problem of exposition -- Dramatization of exposition -- Use of irony -- Use of examples -- The right moment for exposition -- How to reveal themes in dialogue -- Verbal setups and payoffs, taglines, key words and metaphorical texture.
Batman Begins. "Justice is about harmony" -- Theme in dialogue -- Metaphorical texture -- Munich. "Break bread with me" -- Theme through visual metaphors -- Subtheme in dialogue -- Subtheme through verbal metaphors -- Metaphorical texture -- Dialogue and revealing metaphors -- Collateral. "Guy. Gets on a subway. Dies" -- The revealing metaphor -- The Dark Knight. "Because he can take it..." -- The revealing metaphor -- Filmography -- References.
Abstract:
<I>Words in Action</I> dedicates to the subject of film dialogue a comprehensive exploration. The book analyzes a wide series of examples, perfectly chosen in contemporary American mainstream cinema - from <I>Gladiator</I> to <I>The Devil Wears Prada</I>, from <I>Schindler's List</I> to <I>A Beautiful Mind</I>, from <I>Collateral</I> to <I>The Dark Knight</I> - and, in some cases, also in prime time TV drama - <I>ER</I>, <I>The West Wing</I>, <I>House M.D.</I>, <I>John Adams</I>.<BR> In a screenplay, the secrets of well written dialogue are hidden in the construction of the scene, where every word should stem from the theme of the story. At the light of this basic assumption, the book explores how Hollywood screenwriters create verbal duels assigning characters different frames of values and making the hero win by «reframing» what is at stake in the scene. The author elaborates on how Oscar winner authors such as Paul Haggis, Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian create subtext. Finally, the book highlights the screenwriting techniques to cover exposition, an issue which gives the author also the opportunity to concentrate on the differences between dialogues in movies and in TV drama.
Local Note:
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2017. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.
Genre:
Electronic Access:
Click to View