NIGERIA MOVIE REVIEWS - DIALOGUE

CREATING THE IDEAL DIALOGUE FOR YOUR MOVIE

THE NOLLYWOOD MOVIES CASE STUDY

the Nigerian conversation

Growing up as a child, one of the things I envied about adults was the way they engaged in conversations.

I would wonder how they come up with such speeches or how they say the things they said.

I usually thought, it was something you couldn't control. You just open your mouth and let the words pour out and the recipient would do same, and somehow, they would both be making sense to each other. it kind of justifies why I was a noisy kid back then. I just simply blabbed on and hoped it made some sense to my listeners. It wasn't always so easy; Infact most of the time i got scolded because i was simply MAKING A NOISE.

I realized as I grew that there was more to talking than just opening the mouth. There was a thought process.
So when I see movies that create characters who just do what I used to do as a kid - i.e MAKE NOISE, in a bid to engage in dialogues I feel the need to bring to the notice what they must have missed out during the screenplay creation process. 

1. There is a certain pattern or style that is usually unique to the speaker's personality. For instance, a playful sanguine may reply to a simple question like: "are you hungry?" by saying "I can eat an elephant!" While a taciturn choleric may just say "yes". Another personality may reply with a question "do you want to give me food?" So when writing dialogues in your screenplay one should take note of the characters personality and should ONLY talk like they would.

This is why you must first create a well defined character.  (More about defining characters would come soon)

2. It is also pertinent to take note of the world of the story. In what kind of environment do your character reside?
if you were ever that kid whose mother never allowed to mingle with people in the neighbourhood of Oshodi just so that you wouldn't speak like the "agberos" that roamed about, then you should understand the essence of environmental influence on a person. Now how do you feel when you see a setting about an epic story of a village girl who is speaking the queen's English?

3. In all, let your dialogue be creative, concise and relevant in moving your story forward. No one likes to hear an over flogged joke, or an over emphasizd point especially when we have gotten it already.
In your screenplay, if the dialogue is too long and irrelevant - kill it.

A good dialogue makes the entire screenplay feel like music - well woven, stimulating and carrying the message of the story.

If you have any suggestions on how Nollywood screenwriter can make their Movie dialogues make more sense, Pleaseshare in the comment section, I will love to hear it.