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How to Write Funny, Compelling Dialogue that Doesn't Suck

SCRIPT X 464.11E

Learn how masterful screenwriters put realistic words into their characters’ mouths in this course dedicated to the art and craft of dialogue.

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What you can learn.

Study how the moral premise of your story feeds into comedic opportunities
Turn life experience into funny dialogue that resonates in your script
Employ effective editing techniques to ensure only the best lines survive
Identify dialogue pitfalls and learn to avoid them

About this course:

Great, funny, compelling dialogue is easier than you think. It comes when you focus on one single thing: your moral premise. There’s a vice and a virtue ready to argue with each other, and funny lines arrive when you see the strengths and weaknesses in your argument. In this workshop, you learn how screenplay structure can be dialogue’s best friend, how to write great dialogue by drawing from your worst life moments, and how to be a ruthless editor. You also learn how to avoid dialogue pitfalls like wordiness, clunkiness, ambivalence, and wishy-washiness. By the end of the course, you write dialogue that cracks like a whip.

Winter 2025 Schedule

January 7 - March 11

Tuesday 4:00PM - 7:00PM PT

Available

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Instructor: Michael Jann

401080

Fee:

$720.00

Live Online

Location: Remote Classroom

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Notes

This course is held via video teleconference. Instructors use Zoom to offer live class meetings at the designated class meeting time. Students must be present at the course meeting time as each student’s final grade may include scores for participation. Please inform your instructor if you will miss a class meeting. You are responsible for any class information you missed. We suggest you arrange with a fellow classmate to share their notes when feasible.

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

Refund Deadline

No refunds after January 21, 2025

Course Requirements

Internet required to retrieve course materials.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC SYLLABUS FOR THIS COURSE.

Schedule

Type

Date

Time

Location

Online

Tue Jan 7, 2025

4:00PM PT - 7:00PM PT