on script writing:

One of the best "sitting around talking" movies ever made was MY DINNER WITH ANDRE. If you haven't seen it, you could start by renting it on video and critically reviewing it while you watch to see what's working so well in the story and dialogue and between the two main characters and etc. If you've already seen it, go rent it again for a refresher. You'll notice that it's not that these two characters are just sitting around talking, but it's WHAT they are talking about and how involved they are in these subjects. (One mostly talks and the other mostly listens, but they are both very involved in their respective roles.) I'd also suggest you rent a good "walking around talking" movie called MINDWALK. This one has more than two characters, and there's not much going on in the way of location and action. Basically, they hang out inside and go for walks outside, and talk with each other. You might want to consider just transferring it as a play: like your screenplay is shot just as if it were a play. This was done really well a couple of years ago with UNCLE VANYA--starring Julianna Moore before she hit it big, and you'll see just why she hit the big time with her work in this movie. Also, ask around with friends. What "talking" scenes in movies do they remember, and why? There are plenty of movies with contained, long dramatic scenes in which people are talking and where those scenes take place in contained locations like houses and small towns. BEAUTIFUL GIRLS and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS are good ones to watch, for how these main scenes are moved with little interaction between locations. And remember the credo with script writing: SHOW, DON'T TELL. Lots of the "talking" in dialogue scenes has to happen with body language and facial expression, not with words. Ask yourself, what are your characters talking ABOUT? What have they each brought with them into that room? What is the drama of the situation? It has to be engaging on some level. I believe there are plenty of people out there who can get both mentally and emotionally engaged in experiencing a film (otherwise we wouldn't even have the ones listed above!). Respect this, and engage your audience as the storyteller. Give them something to get involved in. A funeral parlor actually gives you a lot to work with; family drama, the age old questions of death and the meaning of life, grief/anger/ resolution/comic relief, skeletons in the closet, how an undertaker chooses the profession, etc. You CAN do this with contained scenes and locations in film. Remember the medium: it has to be visual. Remember your audience. And remember that you only have two hours to tell your story. Hope this helps. Let us know how things go? cheers--Hilary got feedback?