SCREENPLAY DIALOGUE AND MARKETING

by Skyler Caleb

Two of the toughest things to perfect when you're writing a screenplay are dialogue and marketing. I've been running ScreenplayCoverage.com for a while now, and I see that we frequently come across screenplays with good stories, but dialogue that just isn't natural. Some people seem to be born with this natural ear for dialogue, and some aren't.

Sometimes it can be as simple as using contractions incorrectly. I'm still shocked at how often writers seem to avoid using contractions when they're doing dialogue. One writer told me he avoids it because he doesn't know where the apostrophes go. First of all, if you're going to tackle writing a screenplay, you should make it a point to remember the apostrophe goes where letters were removed. Second, is this really worth sacrificing the natural flow of your dialogue? Here's an example: "MIKE: I am going for a run, honey. Please do not forget to call your mother." Sure, we get the point, but do many people really talk that way?

But let's not get too caught up on contractions. Having a natural ear for dialogue is much more complicated than that, and sometimes can't even be taught. I often suggest that writers team up with someone who they know has this natural ear for writing dialogue. That can be difficult to find. Just try calling up your writer friends and asking them if they have it. You'll probably get a yes.

I launched our newest service, Performed Readings, to try to help writers with this. We set up studio recordings and hire trained actors to perform screenplays. We send the audio files as mp3's so the writer can burn as many CD's with as they'd like.

I really feel we're treading new ground here, and this will become a major way screenwriters refine their dialogue and overall flow of their screenplays in the future.

This also comes back to marketing. I don't know about you, but at least half the time I e-mail someone my screenplay, or even print them a hard copy, it just doesn't get read. People are busy. They would love to have read your script already and give you some feedback, they just don't have the time or energy to sit down with a 2 hour homework assignment. So give them your screenplay on CD. Let them pop it in their CD player on the way to work.

We have launched a whole other sister site for this service, at www.ScreenplayReadings.com, to go along with our trusted coverage service at ScreenplayCoverage.com. Give a reading a shot, and tell me what you think!

Skyler Caleb is an accomplished actor, writer, and director, and has been overseeing screenplay coverage by the staff of ScreenplayCoverage.com (formerly Creative Screenplay) for 2 years.