Can you remember a scene in a movie where the characters are talking over each other? It doesn’t happen a lot but when it’s used effectively, it can lead to memorable and even magical movie moments. Overlapping dialogue is a powerful screenwriting tool that adds depth and dimension to your screenplay when done well. It helps to create tension, excitement and even humor in a screenplay. While it can make your dialogue feel more realistic and engaging, it can also be confusing and difficult to read.
Reveal Character Traits
The way a character speaks when they’re interrupted can reveal a lot about their personality. A character who’s interrupted might become angry or frustrated, while the character who’s interrupting might be more assertive or confident. While it’s an effective way to infer character traits, overlapping dialogue should be used sparingly to avoid it from becoming overwhelming. A good rule of thumb is to use it no more than once or twice per scene.
Add Humour
Overlapping dialogue can also add humor to a scene. You might use it to show two characters who are constantly interrupting each other or to create misunderstanding.
Be Clear
It’s important to be clear about who is speaking when you’re using overlapping dialogue. You can do this by using dialogue tags, such as “he said” or “she said,” or by placing the characters’ names above their dialogue. If you’re using a screenwriting software program, use different fonts or colours to distinguish between different characters’ dialogue to make it easier for the reader to follow who’s speaking. If you have a lot of overlapping dialogue, it will be easier for the reader to read and understand if break it up into smaller chunks.
Use Punctuation
Ellipses can be used to indicate that a character’s dialogue is being interrupted. Brackets can be used to provide additional information about a character’s dialogue, such as their tone of voice or body language.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to use it effectively to create dialogue that is both realistic and engaging.