Action before dialogue

my opinion

As long as the action cracks along at a fair pace and isn't delivered in big chunks of hard-to-chew text, there's no reason why lack of dialogue should put a reader off.

If you haven't already read it, can I suggest you take a peek at one of [Redacted--JDM] columns on the [Redacted--] site:
Link removed by request of the other site's webmaster

The sub-article titled PUT IT IN DIALOG: might be prove interesting.

-Derek

there are no right or wrong answers to this because it's about style not formatting. flicks start in so many differents ways: with a written prologue, protag voice over, action for the first 20 minutes (saving private ryan), etc... it's all about setting the tone for your flick. ie - every james bond flick has the same tone b/c they all start with a great escape.

888seed888 said:

This one will be short and to the point.

How much action is acceptable before your first dialogue? In most of the scripts I've read there is only a maximum of like half of a page. Then again, I haven't read that many yet.

I have about a page of my script done... all action. Do you think this will turn off potential readers? Its not like I spent a page talking about the setting. You can definitely get a feel for the theme of my story, but no main characters have made an appearance yet.

Is this the right track or not?

Click to expand...

In my best script, the first page has no dialogue whatsoever, and the second page has three lines of dialogue: one word, repeated three times.

I am of two minds on this question. Being a reader, you look at one page of all black and you groan.

But also, being a reader, you're absolutely going to read the first page. You'll probably read as many as 3 pages before throwing it out.

So while a first page of all action is going to put some one off, if they're already resolved to at least look at the script, then they're likely to read the first page no matter what.

I also like to start my scripts with action, because I just like that kind of thing. So I've done this before.

But yeah, break it up, keep it brief, and make it as easy to read as possible.

I don't know if that's much of an answer =)