DZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue 2 - Hook and Eye

Listen when you're rewriting dialogue and want to create connection between characters.

A full three years after the first instalment (and one of our most popular), Stu and Chas have kidnapped Stephen Cleary to once again develop some craft tools around dialogue. It would be fair to say that - in that time - all three have learnt a lot more about dialogue than they knew in 2016. It would be also fair to say that Stephen perhaps learnt a little more through his research into “genderlect”.

In Part II, we analyse key scenes from films and TV shows famous for their dialogue, namely FLEABAG (Season 2, Episode 5), JUNO and DEADWOOD (The Pilot). The biggest tools we explore are: the hook and eye; how dialogue can reveal status and empathy; rhythm; contrast and affinity; and pacing.

And just to help us all out, Stephen rounds out the episode with some quick fire examples - FIVE EASY PIECES, JERRY MAGUIRE, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, and NOTTING HILL (again) - and further dialogue tips.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode during the holiday season.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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CHAPTERS

• 00:00:06 – Intro: Dialogue (Part 2) - Hook and Eye
• 00:05:52 – Status and Gender
• 00:15:26 – Fleabag (S2E05)
• 00:47:41 – Juno
• 01:20:20 – Deadwood (Pilot)
• 01:40:55 – More Dialogue Tips & Technique

FILMS

• JUNO (2007) — (w) Diablo Cody (d) Jason Reitman

SHOWS

• DEADWOOD 1x1 "Deadwood" — Walter Hill (d), David Milch (w)
• FLEABAG 2x5 — Harry Bradbeer (d), Phoebe Waller Bridge (w)

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: JUNO (2007) — Diablo Cody

LINKS

• Read: Genderlect / Language and Gender
• Read: Time - The Truth About How Much Women Talk -- and Whether Men Listen
• YouTube: FLEABAG: Hair is Everything
• YouTube: You can never go home again
• YouTube: NOTTING HILL: Kitchen scene

EPISODES IN THE BETTER DIALOGUE SERIES

• DZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue 2 - Hook and Eye

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2019/dz-63/