Customer Reviews

Writing Dialogue for Scripts (A&C Black Writing Handbooks)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read four other dialogue books in an effort to improve my screenwriting skills, and this is the best one that I've found. This book is the real deal. It explains subtext in a way that none of the other books that I read have ever come close to. It also explains some situations that I never considered in my scripts before like: characters who brag, ly, and other traits, and how they impact scripts. It also runs through examples of good and bad exposition.

Good film dialogue books seem to be extremely rare. I'm rating this one five stars, and I wouldn't rate any of the other four that I've read more than two stars. In comparison to this fine book, they were virtually a waste of my time and money.

I have read this book in four days and tried to extracted all useful information out of it.
First, this book really offers a lot to learn. Rib Davis points out some aspects, which I haven't read in other books so far. Nevertheless there are some points, which, in my opinion, are inevitable for writing good dialogue, but I missed them in this lecture.

At the beginning he gives a good overview of the differences between written dialogue and naturalistic speech. His attempt to find a new form for written dialogue, so called naturalistic dialogue and further the hightened naturalism, is very helpful. The examples are perfect and his explanations are all easy to follow.

Until chapter 7 (out of 13) everything follows a logical order. Chapter 7 (Tone, Pace, Conflict) seemed to be too packed and sometimes confusing. The differences between mood, tone, form and so on don't really work for me. In the next chapters (the last third) he misses the track. He talks too much about narrating, rare dialogue forms and the chapter about comic dialogue was pretentious.

In the end, I can give this book without any doubt 4 stars. It's a helpful read and the first half has some astonishing insights, which really matter for professional writers. (Don't forget that Rib Davis is acutally a writer, who has accomplished something) Nevertheless there are some important points missing: one chapter about subtext, one chapter about communication without words and maybe one chapter about the action/reaction mechanism...

To be honest, I haven't found the "holy bible" according dialogue writing yet. So far I have read three books about writing dialogue, and several about creative writing and script writing, which always include one chapter about dialogue. I pick what helps me out of these books. So start to read, compare and most important try out and practice, that's the only advice, I can give you.

I've read quite a few books on dialogue. They all stink, except for this one. Not only is this a great book on dialogue, but it is a great book to understand cinematic technique. This is one of those books that once you're done, you feel like you've learned some of those great secrets of film. The reason you'll feel this way is because indeed, you will. I can't say enough good things about this. I can say I've read quite a few other books on the subject, and none of them come close to this one. If there is any book you buy, make it Writing Dialogue for Scripts.

I enjoyed the book even though it had a "British" accent :) It covered a lot of info so I will have to read it again and take notes. the first pass was to just read it; the second run will be to absorb the info but a book worth having on the shelf for reference.