Character dialogue and action are like three sides of a triangle all supporting and informing each other. Which one do you favour or think is more important? Do you start with a character and listen for dialogue or do you write dialogue and let that inform of the character? Thanks
Matthew H Emma's Lounge Discussions
Beginner Question: What to Write?
Hi! I'm new to screenwriting and the site, but as my profile says, I'm no stranger to scripts. My question is more about sale-ability than techniques or mechanics.
I am a huge fan of fantasy and paranormal. I'm a romance novelist and I write paranormal romance Arial ducks, but I know many producers a...
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Doug Nelson
- 8 years ago
I read it last night and love the story line. I'll get you some notes in a day or so.
Thank you, Doug!!!!
Welcome back to Stage32, Jorge! And thank you so much for the encouragement!
Chris Thomas
- 8 years ago
Write what you know or what you're passionate about.
Arial - I just sent you some brief notes, let me know if you got then and if they are helpful, thanx, Doug
Male or Female Protags
Who do you all think are more fun protagonists to write? Male or female protags. I have written both, but for whatever reason, I have more female protagonists and think they are more fun to write.
Matthew H Emma
- 8 years ago
DL you raise a great point and thanks for the insight. I would say my lady protags are dynamic and most certainly flawed.
Bill Costantini
- 8 years ago
To answer your original question....it's all fun!
Matthew H Emma
- 8 years ago
Like your philosophy Bill.
Tayo Akinsipe
- 8 years ago
I don't think the gender matters. I believe the personality matters more. At the same time i think giving a female character a personality or type or role that is normally male is very interesting and vice versa
Like you I most often have female protagonists. It just come down to being more of a challenge. When I was in college they kept saying to just write a male character and then change the name to a female. I never, ever, ever, once did that.
Hello
Hello my fellow screenwriters. I'm Matthew H Emma and I have written five feature-length scripts I one day dream will get sold and be turned into films. I look forward to interacting with and learning from as many of you as possible.
Historical sounds cool.
Thanks.
Welcome Matthew, good luck!
They all sound very interesting. I think the sports drama may have some serious fans out there!!
Thank you. What do you write about?
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Regarding this thread topic... Character, dialogue and action are all parts of a whole. The whole being greater than the sum of its parts. So I don't see any one of those elements as being more import...
Expand commentRegarding this thread topic... Character, dialogue and action are all parts of a whole. The whole being greater than the sum of its parts. So I don't see any one of those elements as being more important than the others. They are all equally important. They all work together. Personally, I consider all three in tandem when starting a story/screenplay. ;)
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I don't think one is more important than the other. However, I typically let the character color the dialogue.
Dan M, like most people it is hard to see my own mistakes. I had a character that started as a greasy, unwashed junky, but how he acted during the story was inconsistent with who he was. So I swap peo...
Expand commentDan M, like most people it is hard to see my own mistakes. I had a character that started as a greasy, unwashed junky, but how he acted during the story was inconsistent with who he was. So I swap people in my mind, he is now a guy who does drugs, sells a bit and thinks he is big time when he isn't. That now fits his involvement in the story, but his action and dialogue needed a complete rewrite. Makes for a better story.
When I was talking about action I was talking from a character context not a story context. Does the person hug or shake hands, do they cry or shake when angry. I heard about an argument in a writer's...
Expand commentWhen I was talking about action I was talking from a character context not a story context. Does the person hug or shake hands, do they cry or shake when angry. I heard about an argument in a writer's room (can't remember which show) over if a person would slam a door or just storm out. I find the physicality of a character as fascinating as how they speak.
Robert, yep default, dialogue has to be good. But does a person say "can't" or "cannot", both speak to character. If the "cannot" is perfect would you go back and change the character to make this fit...
Expand commentRobert, yep default, dialogue has to be good. But does a person say "can't" or "cannot", both speak to character. If the "cannot" is perfect would you go back and change the character to make this fit? I am rewriting a character because their look and actions are too dumb compared to how they talk.