a presentation on how to write effective dialogues.

1. Episode
5:
Remember
those
lines
Kriztine Rosales-Viray

2. VISION
Watch this!

3. Concept
Catcher
Memorable movie lines build a character or an
actor.
!
Narrative Dialogues VS Real-Life Conversation
Similarities:
1. Sounds natural
2. Conversational
3. Realistic

4. O Differences:
O 1. Dialogue is a higher level of conversation
O 2. It is organized and planned
O 3. conversations are not too casual as to real
life.
O Remember:
O In dialogue writing, the most important thing
to remember is to keep the individual voices
of your character alive and distinct from one
another.

5. O How can we do this?
!
O Review your character sketch, character
quadrants, and character information sheet.
O Let your character speak for himself/herself.
!
O Example: “He’s dead.”
O A. Patay na siya
O B. Nadedbol sya.
O C. Tsugi na sya.
O D. Tepok na sya.
O E. Non-verbal sign – hand cutting across
one’s neck.

6. !
!
O There is a big difference in terms of
character, when one says,
O A. Iniibig Kita
O B. Mahal Kita
O C. Iniirog Kita
O D. Sinisinta Kita
O E. I Love You…

7. O Which of the following lines will a fraternity
leader probably say?
!
O A. Let’s go boys
O B. Boys, let’s go.
O C. Brad, tara na.
!
O The manner of saying a line also reveals
character. For example, saying I love you in a
couple of ways….
O (sarcasm, sincerity, shouting with joy, angrily,
uncertainty)

8. O 2 ways in saying the dialogues:
!
O 1. directly
O 2. with subtlety – communicates a second
level of meaning.
!
O Formula for a GOOD DIALOGUE
!
O 90% - OBSERVING AND LISTENING
O 10% - WRITING DOWN

9. Things
to
remember
in
dialogue
writing
O 1. Never repeat what already has been used in
another narrative.
O 2. Never use clichés.
O 3. it is not your goal to have a quotable line, just
make it simple and clear.
O 4. It must have an impact, a cinematic feel when
delivered..
O 5. Each line that your character will utter must be
related, significant and has a purpose in the
narrative.

10. O 6. Listen to the lines/dialogues.
O 7. When your characters start to sound the
same or alike, then there is a problem with
your dialogues!
!
O Situation:
O Bryan: Ayoko na! Pucha dahil lang dito sa
Bea na ito, masusuntok lang ako! Si Bea
lang! Siya lang ang pinagaawayan dito? Sa
iyong sa iyo na siya pare! I am outta here! At
pucha Candy! Umamin ka nga! Fix up this
mess bitch!

11. O Bea: Anong nangyayari dito Candy? Do you
have anything to do with this?
!
O Candy: What are you talking about? Bakit
pati ako dinadamay mo?
!
O Brian: Hoy, alam, nyo ba ba si Candy ang
may pakana ng lahat ng ito? Sinet-up nya
ang lahat , ang lahat ng ito pati na yung
babae sa bar? Nagseselos kase sya sa yo
Bea! Gusto nya kase si John! Ang bababaw
nyo Leche! Makaalis na nga. Halika na nga
dude!

12. O 8. Good dialogue is much more than talking
or speaking. It also combines two other
elements: the physical and mental aspects.
!
O Physical Aspect – reveals your character’s
feelings. How they move in relation to what
they say is very important.
O Mental Aspect -- reveals what the character
is thinking while talking to another character.
Just place yourself in the character’s shoes.
This aspect help the audience understand
and empathize with the character even more.

13. Brainstorm
O Group yourselves into three and come up
with a skit that would introduce GOOD
DIALOGUES with the following scenes to
choose from:
O 1. Love Triangle Confrontation
O 2. Revenge with a Huge Revelation
O 3. Dying Situation
O 4. Friends in love situation

14. Learning
Activity
O 1. Using the dialogue map, write a short
dialogue between two related inanimate
objects (i.e., knife and fork, pen and paper,
chalk and board)
O 2. Write a short dialogue between two
unrelated inanimate objects (i.e., oven and a
chainsaw, boat and slippers)

15. Critic’s
Circle
O Guidelines in Evaluating Dialogue:
!
O 1. Are the lines distinct enough for each
character? Or do they all sound the same?
O 2. Are the lines suitable for the role of the
characters?
O 3. Are the words accompanied by
corresponding actions and thoughts that will
reveal the character’s character?

16. !
O 4. Are the dialogues simple and clear? Are
they significant and are not present just for
the sake of putting dialogue?
O 5. Is the language used consistent? Does it
reflect or create a particular culture or
community in the narrative?

17. Dialogue
Map
Situation/Scene:
Character:
Brief Description:
Verbal (Speech) Physical (Gestures/
Actions)
Mental (Thoughts/
Feelings)

18. Next
Meeting:
Episode
6
Write
It
On
Paper