Establishing HOW and WHY Tarantino shapes the dialogue in the opening of Pulp Fiction.
Scripting and performing a table-reading of your own Tarantinoesque dialogue
Task 1a) Watch the opening scene of Pulp Fiction.
b) Discuss as a class elements of the film that are striking or interesting (camera, sound, features of dialogue, set/costume, mis-en-scene, editing, etc)
(John Travolta as Vincent Vega and Samuel L Jackson as Jules Winnfield)
c) Watch opening scene again, following with the transcript of dialogue.
d) In pairs, make notes on the following aspects:
i) Who are these people and how does the film let us know?
ii) What is surprising/unexpected about their conversation? Why?
iii) What is NOT surprising or EXPECTED about their conversation? Why?
iv) What parts of their conversation - if any - seem important to move the PLOT forwards?
v) What parts of their conversation do not seem to move the plot forwards? What effects are achieved by including them?
e) Feedback in pairs with another pair, then present findings to class.
Task 2- new pairs
Can you do a Tarantino? Provide an opening scene's dialogue, and try and give it a Tarantino flavour.
Set up:
Two characters (who we will learn are gansters, but not immediately) walking towards a subway. One is carrying an old suitcase. (It doesn't contain guns!) They are initially discussing/gently diagreeing on a topic of your choice: (I include some ideas below)
a) their favourite super hero
b) where to get the best milkshake
c) why Kanye West - - is better than Radiohead. (or any other musical artists)
d) why one prefers make up, the other not
The key is how to try and make your writing sound natural, fluent, amusing, while at the same time revealing more about the characters (background, personality) in subtle ways. Not easy. Let's experiment...
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