Deconstructing The Big Lebowski

[DigitalBuddha]

Deconstructing The Big Lebowski by analyzing script writing



10 Screenwriting Lessons You Can Learn From "The Big Lebowski"

"You know, the more I study dialogue, the more I realize it?s less about the actual writing of the dialogue, and more about all the things you do before the dialogue. In other words, the characters, the relationships, the situation. If you get all those things right, the dialogue writes itself."

The dude abides - http://scriptshadow.net/10-screenwriting-lessons-you-can-learn-from-the-big-lebowski/



The Script thingie - http://bednark.com/big.lebowski.script.html

The Big Lebowski - Script Analysis - http://www.shorelinescripts.com/portfolio/the-big-lebowski-script-analysis/

[Stumblin Stumbleweed]

That's fucking interesting, man.
I think the bednark script transcription is at some variance from the published film, is it taken from a compromised second draft?

[jgiffin]

From the first link:

5) (DIALOGUE) Conversation Diversion – An easy way to write some good dialogue is to create a diversion for one of the characters in the conversation, so that he's dealing with someone else at the same time he's dealing with the primary character. So in "Lebowski," we're at the bowling alley and the The Dude is asking Walter what the fuck they're going to do about losing the money. At the same time, Donny informs Walter that the semifinals of the tournament are on the Sabbath. Walter freaks out because he's not allowed to bowl on that day. So he's yelling at Donny to change the day at the same time that he's explaining to The Dude that they have nothing to worry about.  A conversation diversion is a great way to spice up dialogue.

Fucking excellent. I always enjoyed the scenes using that technique but never analyzed it structurally like that. Great links, man.

[Stumblin Stumbleweed]

PS. On further perusal, it is clear that the bednark script is definitely not the final published draft. It doesn't feature either Knox Harrington or his cleft asshole. Some of the names are different too.