Dialogue
Dialogue refers to the written conversations between characters in scripts and screenplays. It's a fundamental element that helps tell the story, reveal character personalities, and move the plot forward. When someone mentions dialogue skills on their resume, they're talking about their ability to write natural-sounding conversations that fit each character's personality and help engage the audience. This is different from novel writing, where internal thoughts can be described - in scripts, everything must be conveyed through spoken words and actions.
Examples in Resumes
Crafted compelling Dialogue for award-winning short film
Revised and polished Dialogue sequences in multiple TV episodes
Led Dialogue writing workshops for emerging screenwriters
Typical job title: "Dialogue Writers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Dialogue Writers
Writing Communities
Job Resources
Industry Events
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach rewriting dialogue for an established character while maintaining their voice?
Expected Answer: A senior writer should discuss analyzing existing character patterns, maintaining consistency with previous work, and enhancing dialogue while preserving the character's unique speech patterns and personality.
Q: How do you handle dialogue revisions when working with multiple stakeholders (directors, producers, actors)?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in managing feedback from different sources, balancing creative vision with practical constraints, and maintaining the integrity of character voices while accommodating necessary changes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you write dialogue that moves the plot forward without being too obvious?
Expected Answer: Should explain techniques for natural exposition through conversation, using subtext, and balancing character development with plot progression.
Q: What methods do you use to ensure each character has a distinct voice?
Expected Answer: Should discuss character background development, creating unique speech patterns, and considering factors like education, culture, and personality in dialogue writing.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What makes good dialogue different from regular conversation?
Expected Answer: Should understand that good dialogue is more focused than real conversation, serves the story purpose, and reveals character while still sounding natural.
Q: How do you format dialogue in a screenplay?
Expected Answer: Should know standard screenplay formatting rules for dialogue, character names, parentheticals, and scene descriptions.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic screenplay formatting
- Character voice development
- Scene writing
- Understanding of story structure
Mid (2-5 years)
- Subtext in dialogue
- Script revision and polishing
- Writing to length requirements
- Collaboration with creative teams
Senior (5+ years)
- Multiple genre expertise
- Script doctoring
- Managing stakeholder feedback
- Mentoring junior writers
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to format dialogue properly in standard screenplay format
- Dialogue that sounds unnatural or too formal
- No understanding of character voice
- Lack of experience with industry standard screenwriting software
- No knowledge of script revision process
Related Terms
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