There's a great deal of silence in screenwriting, and knowing how to use it effectively can significantly enhance your script. Rather than filling scripts with verbose dialogue, embracing silence and subtext can enhance a screenplay by focusing on what's left unsaid. As great as dialogue is and trying to become the next Tarantino dialogue-wise, realize there's more to your writing than having great dialogue.
Regardless, overwriting can clutter a script, making it difficult for readers to visualize the story, while simplicity often allows the narrative to resonate more powerfully. So, let's dive into silence and how you can utilize it within your script via the less is more technique, writing without dialogue, subtext, and knowing how to use dialogue.
Still from 'No Country For Old Men' (2007). Photo credit: IFC Center
Less Is More
The most prominent proponent of silence in screenwriting relates to the classic expression of less is more. You probably heard the expression if you’ve ever attended a screenwriting class and its relation to writing a screenplay that doesn’t read like a book. As sophisticated as you may think, sometimes it's best to cut out the wordy wordplay, especially with dialogue.
It’s essential for screenwriters, as it enhances their script by avoiding overwriting. Overwriting can overwhelm the reader with excessive atmosphere, direction, and information, making it difficult to visualize the film. Embracing simplicity allows the story to come through more clearly and powerfully.
While writing, understand that realistic dialogue comes not from spoken words but actions and physical reactions. We know others' emotions more through what they do than they say.
Often, less dialogue is more effective. The key to writing excellent script dialogue is refining it by cutting unnecessary lines rather than forcing in clever one-liners or speeches. It's straightforward since you should find a simple phrase that perfectly captures the scene's essence rather than filling the page with words.
Try Writing Without Dialogue
A good screenwriting test is trying something extreme to enhance your writing ability. Film and television thrive on visual storytelling, where what isn't said often speaks louder than dialogue.
Many experienced writers understand the power of implication and subtext, and they weave these elements into their scripts from the start rather than relying on heavy dialogue and later cutting it down in revisions.
Start by crafting scenes without any dialogue and focus entirely on action. Concentrate on pushing the story forward through visuals and character movements rather than relying on spoken words to convey meaning.
Writing without dialogue can be challenging but rewarding. Some scenes may have dialogue or exposition naturally. However, you'll tap into a more cinematic storytelling style by pushing yourself to tell the story visually. Resist the instinct to take the easier path, as the most memorable scenes in film and television usually arise from moments that require ingenuity and imagination.
At first, this might seem impossible for certain scenes. Resist that instinct, as it's often just your mind seeking the easier path. The most memorable scenes in scripts usually arise from moments that require originality and imagination.
What Is Your Film’s Subtext?
Many novice writers need to pay more attention to the subtext of their dialogue and script, which is a missed opportunity given its importance. Subtext adds depth to your script and makes your characters feel more authentic. While there are moments when direct exposition or on-the-nose dialogue is necessary, using it too often can make the dialogue feel unnatural. Understanding and utilizing subtext can significantly enhance the richness and authenticity of your script.
If you're unfamiliar with the term 'subtext, 'let's break it down. The 'text' is what you see on the page, the actual words spoken by the characters. The 'subtext' is the unspoken layer, the thoughts, feelings, and hidden meanings beneath the surface of the scene or story that are never directly expressed. The unsaid but strongly implied part of the dialogue adds depth and complexity to your script.
The subtext is always more compelling than straightforward dialogue, as it keeps the reader engaged and challenged in a way that direct, on-the-nose dialogue never could. Subtext can be crafted in the screenplay or brought to life through direction, but the most potent results come when both elements are skillfully combined.
Audiences are drawn to subtext for many reasons. It not only adds richness and texture to a scene but also reflects the reality of human interactions, capturing the subtlety and complexity of reality.
Utilizing Dialogue
You want to ensure its effectiveness when you have dialogue in your script.
The most effective dialogue in a screenplay reflects how people naturally speak in real life–conversations between characters, announcements, or spoken thoughts captured aloud.
Consider how people communicate. In reality, people rarely narrate their lives or talk to themselves. Conversations are spontaneous, seldom rehearsed, and it's uncommon for someone to speak uninterrupted for over a minute, let alone two or three.
Like in real life, each person has a unique way of speaking, with their vocabulary and syntax. Your characters should have distinct 'voices,' too. Someone reading or hearing your script should be able to recognize a character simply by their dialogue and expressions. Crafting unique character voices in your dialogue can make your characters more memorable and your script more engaging.
When crafting dialogue, think about your characters' unique traits. How can you reveal these traits through the way they speak?
Examples
The Sixth Sense (1999) - When Dr. Malcolm Crowe's wife, Anna, appears to be giving him the silent treatment, it is, in reality, a moment of deep mourning as she sits alone, grieving her husband's death.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - During the pocket watch monologue, usually, a kid might respond somehow, but the child's silence in this scene amplifies the impact of Christopher Walken's character's speech.
No Country For Old Men (2007) - Most fight scenes have little dialogue and no score.
The Graduate (1967) - The silent ending of both characters realizing what they’ve done.
Whiplash (2014) - The end musical performance where Miles Teller’s character and JK Simmons’s character play off one another during the improvised musical performance.
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