Ye olde Body Language

Elijah Phoenix · Nov 15, 2005

The sole reason i joined this site is because I was wracking my brain trying to get past a concept to outline- and I couldn't.

I have been studying the science of body language lately. I've found myself obsessed with it lately. I study it all day long and find myself analyzing my own body language.

I want to do a work centered around body language. I don't know if i want to try for a novel,screenplay,short story or what. All I have is a concept. I want to do something with body language as the central theme or title.
Maybe title it " Body Talk" . anyway, I have some ideas that are obvious, but I think the subject could be very very attractive and marketable if i could wrap a great story around it. Body language would be a good draw for an audience. It would sell tickets because I think the subject matter is appealing.

I just can't generate that great story to wrap around it right now,And that's disconcerting for me because I'm so brilliant. Either I'm losing my touch or I"m just tired right now. I must be tired, surely I'm not losing my brilliance.

Anybody have any thoughts about body language? Usually i can generate a great story in a day. I need something and it's driving me nuts. Why can't I generate a great story around this subject? Could I not be as brilliant as I think I am?! Nah!

NeuroFizz · Nov 15, 2005

Would you use quotation marks?

brokenfingers · Nov 15, 2005

Anybody have any thoughts about body language?

You can check this site out:

http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/diction1.htm

batgirl · Nov 15, 2005

How about - one character is deaf (either permanently or temporarily) and is trying to get by with lip-reading, which at first s/he supplements by a growing understanding and knowledge of body language. Since lip-reading is notoriously unreliable, as the character gets hearing back or gets hearing aid, discovers that his/her interpretation of what people were saying was way off in terms of words, but right on in terms of intent and meaning. Can s/he go back to the limitations of verbal communication?
For fun, maybe a love interest who is blind, and must rely entirely on hearing (the words and the undertones) to know what people are saying, and can't use the body language.
Is that vague enough to spark a story idea?
-Barbara

Aconite · Nov 15, 2005

Was it Janet Kagan's Hellspark in which
--SPOILER--

the aliens assume the body language of the speaker is linked to the spoken language used by that person? This is a major plot point, as the aliens do not therefore recognize the same spoken language used by two different people because their body language is different.

Margaret Frazer says of her medieval mysteries that she realized early on that the bowing and other body language was a necessary and recognized part of communication at the time, and her books would have to include it.

aweis · Nov 15, 2005

Watch some silent films with Chaplin or Arbuckle, those old films were all about body language. They really had to exagerate body movements and facial expressions to express their reactions to everything.

Celia Cyanide · Nov 15, 2005

I think a screenplay would be perfect. It's a challenge for an actor to say one thing and covey another through body language.

Elijah Phoenix · Nov 21, 2005

You know, I really thought about the screenplay angle but since I started studying body language, I've noticed that actors don't tend to "jibe" or is it "jive" their body language to their dialogue. The obvious overacting scenes do, but the subtle body language in most scenes don't include the right body language. Thats the directors shortcoming i suppose.I think I'm gonna go the Tv series route and try to pitch it to a network like USA or FX.

I got a woman who is just naturally gifted with body language. I want to use her something like a "Ghost Whisperer" or "Medium" or maybe a "Monk" type character. She can do a personality profile on someone just from people watching them for a few minutes. Thats the whole show. Story ideas will come as I go about my daily life. At least i got faith that they will. gulp!!

I really and truly believe i could sell the show to a network because the subject matter would be so fascinating. I can use drama, comedy, suspense.
I can use her in police interrogations, jury consultant, love guru, all kinds of fun stuff.

I'm bored easily and tend to go from one project to the next without looking back, but this one got a hold on me.

I'm still trying to get a visual of my female lead and decide if i want her to have a side kick. For some reason I see Christina Applegate doing it, and maybe Mira Sorvino as her older sister side kick. Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn are their parents. That'll cost a bundle every week, eh?

Jo · Nov 21, 2005

Allan Pease is a renowned body language expert (he is almost feared by interviewers because he reads people so well - especially handy in political forums). He would be a great template for your character.

Elijah Phoenix · Nov 22, 2005

Jo~,

So kind of you to pass that along.
I like your signature. very much.

Did you start to wonder why the subject of body language is never dealt with in movies or TV? It's almost like it's taboo. I think maybe that nobody wants to make people self conscience. When I tell someone that I"m studying and researching the science of body language, they get very self-conscience. Women, on the other hand, tend to be less guarded and excessively curious. But you can still see their demeanor change to cautious.
So far, I've been absolutely amazed at the power of body language. People can be subliminally manipulated using body language. they form an opinion of you in the first couple seconds. If you keep an open stance when you meet someone, they tend to have a favorable opinion of you. Open stance with hands on hips sends an energetic ready signal that people admire and makes them see you as a go getter. Steepling of the hands sends a sincerity signal.
I'm amazed everyday at the power of body language. No wonder people tend to fear Mr. Pease. It is a true power. I think thats why it is kept so secret and under wraps. You don't want to put power into the hands of devious manipulators. Why teach bad people powerful habits? I don't know ?

henriette · Nov 22, 2005

elijah- i would suggest watching some period pieces like "sense and sensibility", "vanity fair", "emma", even "pride and prejudice"...all the old regency/jane austen movie versions.

back then, so much was inferred through double ententre and body language. a look across the room, a slight press of the hand...these are all small things, but are incredibly important in the plots. i'm not a huge austen fan, but i always love how the relationships develop with such tiny, miniscule actions.

Saanen · Nov 22, 2005

Elijah Phoenix said:
Did you start to wonder why the subject of body language is never dealt with in movies or TV? It's almost like it's taboo.

I wonder if maybe most people just don't think of body language as important, and that's why it doesn't come up often. In fact, now that you bring it up (awesome thread, by the way) I'm starting to wonder how I can enhance my current WIP with it--not as a theme, but just as a character trait.

I'm reading a book called The Language of Clothes by Alison Lurie right now--it's a little dated (first published in 1981) but still fascinating. You might find it interesting to dip into as a sidebar of your body language studies.

Anyway, the more you learn about body language, the more likely you are to come up with a killer idea to use it in your writing. And, of course, you don't have to use it in just one work. It's a basic human skill that we all practice to some extent, so you can put it into all your writing and make your characters that much more realistic because we can "see" what they perceive about other characters.

Peggy · Nov 22, 2005

It sounds like an idea that could make for an interesting mystery series.

I think many of us react to body language on a subconscious level, so it might be hard to show that on camera (or in a description). That may be why so many TV programs (especially sitcoms) exaggerate body language: to make sure we all "get it". One comedy that does it pretty well is the BBC version of "The Office". It's shot as a pseudo-documentary, and the characters are somtimes "caught" with revealing expressions or gestures.

In written fiction: I believe that one of the skills of the Bene Gesserit in the Dune series was an advanced ability to read (and use) body language. It's one of the (many) things that did not come across in the movie version. They use their skill to their advantage as a way to manipulate others.

(The BBC website has an interesting articles about body language and a test to see if you can spot a fake smile.)

Peggy · Nov 22, 2005

Maybe it could be a political thriller, with the main character working for the president to help "read" other leaders or his adversaries. One of the adversaries could attempt to eliminate this potential threat to his nefarious plans. The ability to read body language could be a real asset when the hero is on the run, allowing him/her to tell friend from foe.

Another thought: If your main character is unusually attuned to body language, it could lead to unexpected conflict in his/her personal life. People often say one thing when they are thinking another, and most of us are unaware that our body could reveal what we are really thinking.

Elijah Phoenix · Nov 22, 2005

Good points all the way around. I was thinking that maybe these medium dudes like Edwards and Praggh use body language while they're throwing out guesses.

I want my body reader to be exceptional in the extreme. Like she can look at someone and tell if they are extroverted or introverted. what their birth order was. If they are a only child. What they do for a living. I want her to be able to read people like a book at a glance.

Theres something there, I can feel it. I'm just waiting on it to come to me. I'm wracking my brain, trying to make it come to me. I liked the idea about the President using a body reader. But it does seem to limit my options in a series.

So far i got this for a title and tag.

BODY TALK
MONK MEETS MEDIUM AND GHOST WHISPERER.

I think I'd like to have a big sister, little sister team. Both have a gift. One is clever and observant as Monk and the other is such a good body reader that she is almost psychic. They can pick up cases to pursue while watching TV. They can tell when someone is being deceptive. I got tons of show ideas but no beginning and no end. I need someone to tell me what to do. wheres my ex when i need her.?

Elijah Phoenix · Nov 24, 2005

Well, it finally came to me. Now I got to go write it. I'm worn out from the thinkin.I got two sisters: Eve and Clare. Eve is body language expert and Clare is a hit-and-miss psychic. They are single and live at home with their parents. They own a beauty shop together. Their Daddy is a writer for the "Daily horse racing news" and their momma is a real estate agent. I'm opening the story with the girls going to the racetrack with their Dad on "Bring your daughter to work day".
They drive Dad nuts. Eve is reading horses body language and Clare is having psychic visions of winners. Dad doesn't know what to think. Then Eve sees something fishy, Body language is telling her that someone is taking a bribe.
Time for the super duo to spring into action.

I SMELL NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST!!!!!

Ye olde Body Language

Elijah Phoenix

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

brokenfingers

Walkin' That Road

batgirl

Writting broad

Aconite

aweis

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

Elijah Phoenix

Jo

Travelling the re-write road

Elijah Phoenix

henriette

Saanen

Peggy

Peggy

Elijah Phoenix

Elijah Phoenix