Worth A Watch

A Lesson in Recording Angel

Thank You, Scott

Here’s a rare video clip that demonstrates my ideal in Recording Angel and dialog. Note how we watch the action take place (in recording angel aka Little Voice), and WE must decipher its meaning. The motion carries its own authority = we’ll watch clearly depicted action = the action need not be explained. To repeat, action carries its own authority.

A hint? The moment you use a “thought” verb you’re explaining. For instance, “Det. John Doe guessed that the refrigerator door had been repaired.” Or, “Det. Frank noted how the photo of the window showed a bullet hole.” Thought verbs = explaining. Please give your reader a chance to assemble the puzzle.

As for dialog, note how it does not further plot in the clip. The dialog only expresses emotion and acts as a “beat” to express some completed thought. The repeated word “fuck” becomes like the rhythm in a song. Again, the dialog does not explain the action, nor does it further the plot by explaining the gradual reveal. The viewer is allowed to follow this pantomime and enjoy the discovery process as the characters perform it.

Can you imagine the choreography that went into creating this scene? Can you imagine how much weaker it would’ve been if the characters had explained their actions in dialog?

Let this be a golden example of what the Ghost of Tom wants from you.