Screenwriting research: Get Shorty

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHSAml1BAR4

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:4a3378bc-3cf1-374f-9922-0daaa2a8785f

As part of my research I have viewed a variety of scenes famous for their good dialogue - firstly is the barbershop scene from the film Get Shorty which was written by Scott Frank and Elmore Leonard (Two authors famed for their snappy and realistic dialogue.


So to research this I have watched the scene and read through the screenplay - both attached above. From this I have concluded that the scene is very good for learning how to write as:


1. It is quick and snappy: the lines in the dialogue are never overlong, what this creates is a quick, snappy back and forth between the characters in the scene and makes it seem like the conversation is moving at a quick and excited pace

2. Ambling: One of the most important factors to making this a natural conversation is it's use of ambling tangents - such as when Chili says Bones' bodyguard can do better that him - this makes sure the conversation isn't just laser focused and is more sporadic: much like a real life conversation

3. Not too serious: One problem which I will be learning to remedy in my writing is to not make the scene too serious or melodramatic. This scene is perfect for showing this as while it is a serious meeting between two dangerous criminals, it keeps it from becoming to edgy and depressing by dashing it with a litany of various jokes and snappy exchanges


Overall from this scene I have learned that to write dialogue well I will need to have a good idea of who my characters are, keep the scene quick and snappy, have ambles and side-tracks and to  not have it be too serious

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