Fiveable
Fiveable

✍️Screenwriting II

✍️screenwriting ii review

6.2 Subtext and Layered Conversations

3 min read•Last Updated on August 9, 2024

Dialogue isn't just about what characters say. It's about what they don't say, too. Subtext adds depth to conversations, letting characters communicate without spelling everything out. It's the art of reading between the lines.

Mastering subtext lets you create rich, layered dialogue. Characters can hide their true feelings, pursue secret agendas, or engage in subtle conflicts. It's a powerful tool for building tension and revealing character depth.

Subtext and Implied Meaning

Understanding Subtext in Dialogue

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  • Subtext conveys underlying meanings beneath surface-level dialogue
  • Implication allows writers to communicate ideas indirectly through context and tone
  • Layered meaning adds depth to conversations by incorporating multiple interpretations
  • Reading between the lines requires audiences to infer unstated information
  • Innuendo uses suggestive language to hint at hidden meanings (often sexual or humorous)

Techniques for Creating Subtext

  • Contrast spoken words with character actions or body language
  • Use ambiguous phrasing to create multiple possible interpretations
  • Incorporate cultural references or inside jokes known only to certain characters
  • Employ metaphors or analogies to indirectly express ideas
  • Create tension through what characters choose not to say

Examples of Effective Subtext

  • Character says "I'm fine" while visibly upset, implying the opposite
  • Couple discusses the weather while actually arguing about their relationship
  • Boss tells employee "We should talk later" hinting at potential job loss
  • Friends make seemingly innocuous small talk laden with unspoken rivalry
  • Character uses euphemisms to avoid directly addressing a sensitive topic

Submerged Emotions and Intentions

Exploring Submerged Emotions in Dialogue

  • Submerged emotions remain unexpressed but influence character behavior
  • Characters may mask true feelings with contradictory words or actions
  • Subtle cues in dialogue can hint at suppressed emotional states
  • Repressed emotions create tension and drive character development
  • Gradual revelation of hidden feelings adds depth to relationships

Conveying Unspoken Intentions

  • Characters pursue goals without explicitly stating their motivations
  • Dialogue can contain hidden agendas or ulterior motives
  • Actions and choices may contradict stated intentions
  • Subtext reveals true character desires beneath surface-level interactions
  • Unspoken intentions create dramatic tension and suspense

Subtextual Conflict in Conversations

  • Characters engage in verbal sparring while avoiding direct confrontation
  • Polite exchanges mask underlying hostility or resentment
  • Power dynamics play out through subtle word choices and phrasing
  • Competing agendas create tension without open disagreement
  • Subtextual conflict builds anticipation for eventual confrontations

Dramatic Irony

Understanding Dramatic Irony in Dialogue

  • Dramatic irony occurs when audience knows information characters do not
  • Creates tension between what characters say and audience understanding
  • Allows for multiple layers of meaning within a single conversation
  • Often used for comedic effect or to build suspense
  • Heightens audience engagement by making them complicit in the story

Techniques for Employing Dramatic Irony

  • Reveal crucial information to audience before characters learn it
  • Have characters misinterpret situations due to lack of knowledge
  • Use dramatic irony to create suspense in thriller or horror genres
  • Employ ironic statements that have different meanings to characters and audience
  • Create comedic situations where characters act on false assumptions

Examples of Dramatic Irony in Dialogue

  • Character discusses future plans unaware of impending doom
  • Villain engages in friendly conversation with hero's loved ones
  • Person compliments another on a quality they actually lack
  • Character seeks advice about a problem from its unknowing cause
  • Audience watches misunderstanding escalate between characters

Key Terms to Review (18)

Dramatic Irony: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more about a situation or a character's intentions than the characters themselves do. This creates tension and engagement, as viewers anticipate how the characters will react when they eventually discover the truth. It deepens the emotional experience and can amplify themes like fate versus free will, often leading to tragic or humorous outcomes.
Subtext: Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or implicit ideas conveyed in dialogue or action that are not explicitly stated. It adds depth and complexity to characters and their interactions, allowing audiences to infer emotions, motives, and relationships beneath the surface.
Emotional stakes: Emotional stakes refer to the significance of the emotional outcomes for characters involved in a narrative, determining how deeply they are affected by events and decisions. The higher the emotional stakes, the more intense the conflict and tension in the story, as characters navigate their desires, fears, and relationships. This concept is crucial for creating compelling drama and character-driven stories, where the audience becomes invested in the characters' journeys and outcomes.
Power dynamics: Power dynamics refers to the way power is distributed and exercised within relationships and conversations. It influences how characters interact, the tensions that arise, and the underlying motivations that drive dialogue. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for creating authentic and engaging character interactions, revealing hidden intentions through subtext, and utilizing silence as a form of communication.
Dialogue analysis: Dialogue analysis refers to the examination and interpretation of conversations within a script, focusing on how characters communicate and the underlying meanings in their exchanges. This involves understanding not just what is said, but also the context, tone, and subtext that inform the dialogue. It is essential for creating layered conversations where the surface meaning may differ from the characters' true intentions or feelings.
Script breakdown: A script breakdown is the process of analyzing a screenplay to identify and categorize all the elements required for production, including characters, locations, props, costumes, and any special effects. This helps filmmakers and crew members understand the logistics of bringing the script to life, allowing for better organization and efficient resource allocation during filming. It also facilitates deeper conversations about subtext and layered meanings in scenes by highlighting how each element contributes to the overall story.
Romantic comedy: Romantic comedy is a genre that blends humor and romance, typically revolving around the romantic entanglements of its protagonists while using comedic elements to enhance the story. This genre often features misunderstandings, quirky characters, and light-hearted situations that create tension and resolution in love stories, making it a popular choice for audiences seeking both laughter and heartfelt moments.
Thriller: A thriller is a genre of literature and film designed to elicit intense excitement and suspense in the audience, often featuring a protagonist facing dangerous situations or criminals. This genre keeps viewers on the edge of their seats through unexpected twists, escalating tension, and high stakes, making it essential for creating compelling narratives. Thrillers often rely on subtext and layered conversations to enhance character dynamics and plot development, while effective short synopses capture the gripping essence of the story to engage potential audiences.
Double entendre: A double entendre is a figure of speech that has two interpretations, one of which is often risqué or suggestive in nature. This clever wordplay can add depth and humor to dialogue, creating layered meanings that engage the audience. In storytelling, it allows characters to convey subtext through seemingly innocuous statements, leading to richer and more complex conversations.
Theme: Theme refers to the underlying message or central idea that a story conveys to its audience. It's what the narrative ultimately explores and communicates, influencing how characters interact, how conflicts unfold, and how resolutions are reached. Themes can be broad concepts such as love, betrayal, or redemption, and they often manifest through subtext, motifs, and character arcs.
David Mamet: David Mamet is an acclaimed American playwright, screenwriter, and director known for his distinctive style of dialogue and focus on themes of power, manipulation, and the human condition. His work often incorporates subtext and layered conversations, revealing the complexities of communication between characters, where what is said is often overshadowed by what is left unsaid.
Banter: Banter refers to playful and light-hearted conversation, often characterized by teasing or witty exchanges. It serves as a means of establishing rapport and enhancing relationships between characters, while also conveying underlying emotions or tensions. In the context of layered conversations, banter can reveal subtext, adding depth to interactions by allowing characters to express feelings that may not be overtly stated.
Subtextual dialogue: Subtextual dialogue refers to the underlying meaning or themes that are conveyed through conversation, rather than being explicitly stated. This type of dialogue enriches interactions between characters by allowing them to express thoughts and emotions indirectly, often leading to layered conversations that reveal more than what is on the surface.
Character Objectives: Character objectives refer to the goals or desires that drive a character's actions and decisions throughout a narrative. These objectives shape the character's motivations, influencing their behavior and interactions with other characters, ultimately impacting the story's progression and emotional depth. Understanding character objectives is crucial for creating layered conversations, where subtext reveals underlying motivations and tensions between characters.
Show, Don't Tell: Show, don't tell is a fundamental principle in storytelling that emphasizes the importance of demonstrating character emotions, actions, and themes through vivid imagery and dialogue rather than straightforward exposition. This technique enhances engagement by allowing the audience to experience the story, encouraging them to draw their own conclusions and feel more connected to the narrative.
Backstory: Backstory refers to the history and background of a character that informs their current motivations, behaviors, and relationships. This narrative element provides context for a character’s journey, influences their decisions, and shapes their development throughout the story, making it essential for crafting compelling character arcs, motivations, and subplots.
Conflict: Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces that drives the narrative and character development in storytelling. It can manifest in various forms, such as internal conflicts within a character, interpersonal conflicts between characters, or larger societal conflicts. These struggles not only create tension but also propel emotional transitions, influence dialogue pacing, and shape character dynamics.
Quentin Tarantino: Quentin Tarantino is a highly influential American filmmaker known for his unique storytelling style, sharp dialogue, and eclectic mix of genres. His films often feature nonlinear narratives, pop culture references, and layered character development, making him a significant figure in contemporary cinema and a master of crafting compelling time and space transitions, subtextual conversations, and memorable dialogues.