One of the things about writing great dialogue in film and TV is that sometimes a joke or common turn of phrase can be overused. It's can be hard to think of examples because so many movies clip them or have different writers on a project these quips are nullified, but we will try. When I read amateur screenplays, these cliché jokes come up very often. They become crutches that don't help you develop a character or a voice. Instead, they just feel like filler when someone is talking. Let's take a peek at these and raise your flag in the air to spot them. 'Swingers' Credit: Miramax Films What Are Some Overused Jokes in Dialogue? I want to preface this by saying I use a ton of these, and so do most pros. The difference is that these jokes are used sparingly, and I don't think the pros use them in place of building a character. Instead, these jokes are used to support the character they've built. The idea is to be aware of these common things and then check yourself if you're using them too much and not being original. Here are some common jokes that can be overused in screenwriting dialogue: The "dad joke": This is a joke that is typically groan-worthy and relies on puns or wordplay. While they can be funny in small doses, they can be overused and not expand on a character or world we're trying to build. The "zinger": This is...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Monday, 16 September, 2024