Announcing: 'The SS Killer Dialogue Challenge'.

Most screenwriting guides instill in writers the golden rule of: Show, don't tell. Movies are primarily a visual medium so we focus predominantly on action to drive the narrative.

However, there are some famous screenwriters renowned for their rich dialogue driven scripts, and there are writers who are especially adept with the gift of the gab -

Quentin Tarantino, Woody Allen, David Mamet, Aaron Sorkin, Diablo Cody, Greta Gerwig, Sofia Coppola, and the late, great RomCom writer, Nora Ephron - to name just a few.

Select from one of the following premises or prompts below and build your 'talking heads' story around it:


I just make up these rules, I have no control over them.

A mysterious parcel is delivered to your house.

Dead person in a room.

Woman on a ledge.

You were talking in your sleep.

You have exactly one hour.

There's blood everywhere.

There's someone upstairs.

This isn't what it looks like.

You're not the one for me.

It's a dead end. What now?

It was on fire.

Write your choice of prompt/premise under your logline. Your premise or prompt must play a vital role in your story. It cannot be just a throw-away line.

Script Length: Write a 5-10 page properly formatted script.
Two characters
One location


Genre: Thriller, Drama, RomCom, Sci-Fi, Crime.
NB: If selecting Comedy genre it must be of the RomCom variety.


Additional Info:
Okay, so here's a big NB: You have an Optional inclusion of a
Third Variable or Scene Agitator:

The Third Variable may be in the form of a third character, time element, audio element, object, animal, impediment, etc.

NB: If you choose a third character as your Third Variable this character will be allowed to speak -
only three lines of dialogue.

See this link -

http://scriptshadow.net/a-super-secret-dialogue-trick-that-will-seriously-up-your-dialogue-game/

- (thanks to Carson at ScriptShadow) for the excellent article and rundown of what The Third Variable is and how it can add to your dialogue and story. Fortuitously, the ScriptShadow article appeared in the midst of concocting this challenge.


As usual Story is all important but dialogue is key to this challenge. Entertain us, thrill us with your witty banter, lack of on the nose dialogue, and cleverly hidden exposition. Scale the heights with your great one-liners. Make us laugh, make us cry, make us hang on your every word. Whatever you write, make it easy on the ear and eloquently memorable.

Timeline:
Friday 9/11 - Theme and Genre release
Friday 9/18 Scripts due 11:59 edt
Sat 9/19 Noon edt scripts posted
Friday 9/25 Writer's Choice votes due

Budget: Low
No Covid-themed scripts. For this one, let's pretend the plague doesn't exist.

This isn't a contest - it's a challenge. There are no official prizes.

You may submit more than one script but it's better to write one GREAT script than two or three mediocre ones. You may also have a writing partner.

You can revise your script as many times as you wish up until the deadline.

Do not put your real name on your script; this is an anonymous challenge. However, please use your real name when submitting your script.

After the challenge closes you can either have your script removed or resubmit your script with your name on it.

Participants must read and comment/review in the discussion board at least five other scripts submitted.

Please put ©2020 on your title page.

Submit your five to ten page script, anonymously to  simplyscripts.com/owc by midnight September 18th midnight edt.

Any questions about the challenge, post them below.

There will be a review page emailed to you for you to score the scripts you read. Please only give scores to scripts that you have read. Please do not rate scripts in your review.

Very nice, Libby!! I'll start off the question bombs...one location. Like from fade in to FADE out? Only one?

You know, Marnie, I did deliberate over two but went with one. Could be good for the restrictions on filmmakers at the moment. Unless there's an uproar we'll stick with the one confined location. If it's a house or similar, then of course other rooms within that same location are allowed.

Love it. F_cking love it.

It may seem obvious but I forgot to add, don't let on which premise/prompt you are using.

Quoted from JEStaats Love it. F_cking love it.

Ah, well that's nice. Thanks, John!  

This could give an advantage to people who talk to themselves a lot. Not saying I'm one of those, you understand.

I'm with you there, Spqr.  
...
A couple of dialogue links for those who want some inspiration.
https://screencraft.org/2016/03/22/7-screenwriting-secrets-from-the-masters-of-great-dialogue/

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2016/the-20-best-dialogue-scenes-in-cinema-history/#comments

On another note, Mark D, and Christopher W, you both were inspiration (with your dialogue questions on the boards) for me thinking up this challenge, so I hope you'll give this one a go.

Oh, and this little story I came across:

Here’s a great anecdote from veteran screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo) about when he took acting classes with his friend Jack Nicholson:
Watching Jack improvise really had an effect. His improvisations were inventive. When he was given a situation, he would not improvise on the nose. He’d talk around the problem, and good writing is the same way: it’s not explicit. Take a very banal situation — a guy trying to seduce a girl. He talks about everything but seduction, anything from a rubber duck he had as a child to the food on the table or whatever. But you know it’s all oriented toward trying to fuck this girl. It’s inventive, and it teaches you something about writing. Most scenes are rarely about what the subject matter is. You soon see the power of dealing obliquely or elliptically with situations, because most people rarely confront things head-on.

We rarely ask directly for what we want.

Ok...so if it's in a house, they can use several rooms because house is the location. If it's in a movie theater, they can be in the lobby, in line for popcorn, and then inside theater?

Yep, I'd pass that. As long as they're not in an Uber parked outside the movie theatre.

Quoted from LC Yep, I'd pass that. As long as they're not in an Uber parked outside the movie theatre.

Ok. Got it. Thanks. And thank you for including rom/com and including the amazing Norah Ephron.

Yeah! Probably should have included Nancy Myers, but Ephron is my favourite.

So Marnie... You go ahead and write that Thriller now.  

Quoted Text On another note, Mark D, and Christopher W, you both were inspiration (with your dialogue questions on the boards) for me thinking up this challenge, so I hope you'll give this one a go.

I was just about to say, was this challenge meant for me? This will give me an excellent opportunity to improve my dialog writing.

Quoted from MarkD I was just about to say, was this challenge meant for me? This will give me an excellent opportunity to improve my dialog writing.

Yes! Glad you noticed, Mark, and very pleased you're on board.

Quoted from LC Yeah! Probably should have included Nancy Myers, but Ephron is my favourite. So Marnie... You go ahead and write that Thriller now.

LOL...I'm more of a drama girl. Just rarely see rom/com included. I'm way,  way too bitter about love anymore to squeak out a rom/com. Unless it's funny that she kills the guy at the end. Lolol. And I love Nancy Myers also. Norah is definitely the queen though.

Quoted from mmmarnie LOL.. I'm way,  way too bitter about love anymore...

There's an outline for a RomCom if ever I heard one.

This should be fun... given how people can have radically different views on exactly the same dialogue!

Time to watch all those Alan Bennett Talking Heads shorts the BBC love so much.

Libby… quick question:

Quoted from LC Write your choice of prompt/premise under your logline. Your premise or prompt must play a vital role in your story. It cannot be just a throw-away line.

then…

Quoted from LC It may seem obvious but I forgot to add, don't let on which premise/prompt you are using.

Not sure how the log is supposed to read if it has to include premise, but be covert? I might be overthinking this… confused is all, thanks.

Oh, nice. This is really good, Lib! Have an amazing OWC, everyone!!

Wow. I'm loving this challenge!

Quoted from Gum Not sure how the log is supposed to read if it has to include premise, but be covert? I might be overthinking this� confused is all, thanks.

Don't give it away in your discussions...

^ oh, right... thanks! I knew I was over thinking it

Yes, Rick. What Pia said.
I should have been precise and said don't give your selection away publicly.

Normal logline when entering.
Premise written underneath, e.g. : I just make up these rules, I have no control over them.

Plot must be centred around the premise, not just a casual line thrown into the mix.

Kham, Rene, Ant, very pleased it meets your approval.

I hope everything else is pretty clear re the Third Variable?... If using it.

Any other questions??

Owen, are those Allan Bennet thingimies one-handers?  Must be 2 characters.
Gonna check 'em out anyway. Hubby says the Bob Hoskins one is particularly good.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood This should be fun... given how people can have radically different views on exactly the same dialogue!

That can be true to a degree. But we all know bad dialogue, right? And we know dialogue that sings.
Btw, I watched your video, Ant. Quite engrossing for just texting on a screen. Great job. Not sure I got the ending.

Okay, going away for half an hour. Any more questions I'll be back (like Arnie). Don't use that line.  

If the third variable is a character, does said character have to remain in play for the entire script?

Mark, nope, he or she does not have to. Up to you.

Remember too, If they speak they can only have up to three lines of dialogue. Or, you could just decide to have them grunt, cough, or neigh,   or no lines at all.

Quoted from LC Owen, are those Allan Bennet thingimies one-handers?  Must be 2 characters. Gonna check 'em out anyway. Hubby says the Bob Hoskins one is particularly good.

Mostly but a masterclass in dialogue and minimalist action.

So I've been keeping an eye on these forums pretty much every day to see when this challenge kicks off. So how come it only shows up TWO DAYS after the event started? I must have been looking at a cached version or something!

I'll have a think and see if I can come up with something as I love dialogue but don't know at the moment. I'm back working full time now, so we'll see.

ugh.
i'm not into it.
steppin' back

Paul sad.

This is a GREAT challenge. I'll have to circle back to this and write one when things clear.

Dangit. I would seriously have loved doing this one.

Quoted from DarrenJamesSeeley ugh. i'm not into it. steppin' back

Think you could write five pages of someone trying to convice you to enter?

If we put all of Paul's forum posts together over the course of the next week, I bet it would hit over five pages...

Yeah! What Rene said... Stop posting, 'sad Paul'. And get cracking on that killer dialogue script.

That goes for 'tardy Mark' and 'ugh DJS' too.  
You call yourselves writers.

Quoted from LC Yeah! What Rene said... Stop posting, 'sad Paul'. And get cracking on that killer dialogue script. That goes for 'tardy Mark' and 'ugh DJS' too.   You call yourselves writers.

I'm fixing up past work. I keep putting it off, and now I'm focused again.
I don't need a side attraction.

Rev. 2 complete. Time to ruminate. Is it clever? Is it crafty? Most of all, is it killer?

Quoted from LC Yeah! What Rene said... Stop posting, 'sad Paul'. And get cracking on that killer dialogue script. That goes for 'tardy Mark' and 'ugh DJS' too.   You call yourselves writers.

It's not the writing that's the hard part. It's the reading, commenting and voting. I enjoy it all, but man, it's a time suck.

Posting here... that's my distraction. Everyone needs a distraction or two. (Or ten.)

Paul, Darren: All good, guys. Do what you gotta do.

I should add for those entering, (and I presume you all know anyway,) but for those not familiar with the turn of phrase:

Killer Dialogue doesn't mean literally.
Characters who happen to be killers are optional.

...
This one's not bad:

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/5-ways-to-start-using-killer-dialogue-in-your-story-2/

Quoted from LC Killer Dialogue doesn't mean literally. Characters who happen to be killers are optional.

I had this idea for one person who literally talks the other one to death, but it’s run to 309 pages and I can’t cut any more and still make it believable

Quoted from FrankM I had this idea for one person who literally talks the other one to death...

Now, there's a good idea.  

This has got to be the quietest prelude to a OWC that I've ever seen. We know who is out but who's in? How's progress? Are you feeling good about this challenge or are you kicking the cat out of frustration? Me? I always feel good about it, right up to submission. I leave it to all of you to make me feel stupid and incompetent. Yay! Something to look forward to....

Quoted from JEStaats This has got to be the quietest prelude to a OWC that I've ever seen. We know who is out but who's in? How's progress? Are you feeling good about this challenge or are you kicking the cat out of frustration? Me? I always feel good about it, right up to submission. I leave it to all of you to make me feel stupid and incompetent. Yay! Something to look forward to....

I have a nugget of a story idea, but likely won’t have a nugget of time to turn anything into a script. It’s a shame because writing for a reasonable budget is a skill I’d definitely like to pick up.

Quoted from JEStaats This has got to be the quietest prelude to a OWC that I've ever seen. ...

I know, right? I was beginning to take it personally... Then I thought, nah, it's a really good open challenge!
Narrows the field for a mug, I suppose.

Good questions too, John.
Oh, and I know that feeling. My script is great, whoops, no, it's bad...Ooh, someone likes it again! Nope, now it's bad again etc.

Sorry, I have to be out - things like bootcamp is approaching and I hardly even read the site here which I’ve never done. Just not a good time for me at all(
Anyway, that’s the reason I’m silent.
And I won’t be even reading the entries! Yes, I’m busy.

Bummer! Well, thanks for popping in to say so, Kham. You will be sorely missed this round.
And, good luck with bootcamp. Is this a down in the mud, flying foxes, and obstacles type bootcamp?

Still lots of time to be inspired.  

Quoted from LC Narrows the field for a mug, I suppose.

Or that dang thong.  

Indeed, too quiet. Scary quiet.  You put together such a fabulous challenge Libby, I'd hate to see a such a low turn out.  I'd be really sad. Still early though. -A

Oooooh, is a flashback allowed???? Just sayin' gurl.

Yay! Some activity.

Ha! Trust you, Andrea. I was wondering if that question would pop up.

If the flashback is confined to the same location, yes.
If it relates to principle main character/s, yes. Third variable/character would be allowed too, as long as their dialogue didn't go over three lines.

P.S. There are always a few quiet achievers lurking in the background so I hope that's the case.
It's going to be very interesting re the numbers.

Okie-dokie, got it. Thanks a bunch.

They say you should never go with your first idea but, with 2 days and loose change to go, I'm going to do an experiment. If I come up with an idea today, I'm going to go with and I'm going to just write it and see what happens. If not, I'll be out.

One question, this single location - can it be on a moving vehicle? Say on a helicopter where the outside locations change but the characters are inside talking away all the time inside the chopper? That's not my idea BTW.

Mark, as long as the main filming area is confined to one overall location, you're all good. Even if it's a helicopter.  

I submitted! My first OWC.

EDIT: I totally have done an OWC before, actually.

Quoted from LC And, good luck with bootcamp.

Thanks, Lib! They say it's a real b*tch, this bootcamp.

Have a great OWC!

I'm still in...I have an idea outlined in detail, now I just need time to sit down and write it. It should go quickly once I do. Hopefully tomorrow? Maybe Friday?

No pressure.  

Well, I have an idea so I'm going to just for it... dialogue warts and all.

Have my idea, written my first draft and now I just have to fine tune it.
I've no idea how it will go down with others but I like it.
It's in no way a great script but I like the premise.

Good for you, guys, and gurl!

There will be at least a half-dozen. And more, here's hoping.
Looking forward to reading them.

I've written a page! Woo! As I started today, I get six more days, right guys? Right?  Hey, is this thing on? *bangs mic*

Haha! You can do it, Mark!

Kind of tackling this last minute, but I think I can get something in.

Cool, Dave.

...We might crack around a dozen if Marnie and a couple of others make an appearance.

Managed to pull a vomit draft out of my backside. I think the WT really set me up for working on this last-minute under pressure nicely.

I was proud of myself, then checked the requirements again and discovered I'd read my prompt WRONG! Not huge, I don't have to redo the whole thing but I do need to tweak it.

-Mark

Quoted from LC Cool, Dave. ...We might crack around a dozen if Marnie and a couple of others make an appearance.

I have nothing yet, not even a spark, but I'll submit something. My entry will no doubt be a mad dash to midnight, but I truly suck at dialog so for me this is an extremely useful challenge!! Sorry in advance to all readers. LOL

Okay - managed to blow one out - we'll see.

Reasons to enter

1. It's been a few years since a wrote anything
2. No Steve Clark
3. Work is slow this week
4. No Steve Clark

Sorted. Also I'm gonna blow one out like Dave and then write something

Quoted from irish eyes Reasons to enter 1. It's been a few years since a wrote anything 2. No Steve Clark 3. Work is slow this week 4. No Steve Clark Sorted. Also I'm gonna blow one out like Dave and then write something

You forgot the most obvious reason: no Steve Clark. Lol.

Quoted from Mr.Blonde You forgot the most obvious reason: no Steve Clark. Lol.

Hmmm never thought about that one

He's too busy being a big shot writing about over sized sweaters and city people who don't understand the true meaning of Christmas until they move to a rural area... you know Hallmark

Well, I'm almost done. I just have to stick the ending somehow...

I haven't written a single word yet.  

A month ago my family was displaced from our home for floor repairs after our dishwasher leaked. We had to return to our suite this week, and our elevator has been out of commission for going on four months now, so lots of trips up and down six flights of stairs moving our essentials into the temporary accommodations and back home this week. Tonight was the last of it, and I'm freaking exhausted.

But I see that countdown timer has ticked to 0 days and there are still over 23 hours, and I have the outline done...I'm not out of this thing yet.

Wow, what a trooper you are, Rene!
At least when you sit down to write you can put your feet up, sort of.  

And thank you, Marnie, and the Marks, and Dave, and Irish, the Ghost-company, and Ant, and anyone else jumping on the bandwagon - (jeez, I sound like I'm on Romper Room) - I'm super excited there's going to be a good turnout.

My question is: Where are you, Steven Clark, and where are you, Jeff? (You are both conspicuous by your absence).
And Blondie... Are you in?

Keep 'em coming guys.
Still seventeen and a half hours to go.

Just submitted. It needs work for sure, but I need the feedback from you guys to figure out what works and what doesn't before I do another draft.

My master plan is that no-one else submits and I'm declared the winner by default. It is fool-proof!

And just like that, I have a draft done. I'll give it a once-over later but I'm in!

Quoted from MarkRenshaw Just submitted. It needs work for sure, but I need the feedback from you guys to figure out what works and what doesn't before I do another draft. My master plan is that no-one else submits and I'm declared the winner by default. It is fool-proof!

Oops. Sorry to ruin your moment, Mark.  

Quoted from irish eyes Reasons to enter 1. It's been a few years since a wrote anything 2. No Steve Clark 3. Work is slow this week 4. No Steve Clark Sorted. Also I'm gonna blow one out like Dave and then write something

Lol. Don’t you have an avatar to change or something?

Quoted from LC My question is: Where are you, Steven Clark, and where are you, Jeff? (You are both conspicuous by your absence.

I cannot speak for Jeff. I’d like to think he’s boozing it up in hot hot tub, blowing farts in a hookers face.

Personally, I’m on, like, the seventeenth rewrite of my Christmas script.

Script submitted.

Okay. Submitted. Woot woot!!

Fuckity, fuck, I've just written 7 pages of my script, a comedy, and then I noticed the genre restrictions - aaarrgggh!

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Fuckity, fuck, I've just written 7 pages of my script, a comedy, and then I noticed the genre restrictions - aaarrgggh!

Just toss a little sex in there. Boom...rom/com.

Oh, I see Ant didn't read the instructions on the packet.  

What Marnie said...
Although, I doubt you'd spill your selected genre.

So, just take a bit out of that scene, you know... the one that's a bit explicit, and add a bit to that other one.  
You can do it. Plenty of tweaking time.
...
Hope everyone else is moving along okay to the finish line.

LC,

Say a voice message over the phone or an answering machine. Would it count against you as the third variable?

Ghost

Ghostie, that qualifies as a fine third variable.

There's no moving out of the location I take it, so all good.

Went with a new story entirely, will keep the other one for another time. Submitted now, phew...

Ant... Wow!

Quoted from mmmarnie Just toss a little sex in there. Boom...rom/com.

Bingo!