Informal part one here.
I know that not all of my readers are into Doctor Who, but this minisode makes a great jumping-off point for a new discussion. If you don’t want to you don’t have to watch the whole thing (the important part starts at five minutes and thirty-three seconds in), but it makes more sense if you do.
Notice how the Doctor (yes, that was the Doctor, even if you didn’t recognize him–he’s probably the most obscure one) says “Cas… I apologize.” He says “I apologize” instead of “I’m sorry” like the Tenth Doctor. Not only is this appropriate to his accent, which seems to me (lifelong American and non-expert that I am) to be a little more upper-class and even slightly archaic compared to the Tenth Doctor’s, but it’s also because the connotation is different.
For instance, when the Tenth Doctor would say “I’m sorry,” he was generally apologizing for some harm he’d unintentionally caused, or else he was saying just how sorry he was that he couldn’t save someone. David Tennant, on the other hand, saying “Sorry” is not actually the saddest thing in the world. It’s just the most adorable thing.
On the other hand, here we have the Eighth Doctor deliberately saying “I apologize.” Notice that he’s apologizing for what he is about to do. However, he isn’t sorry. His voice sounds more rueful, like he’s mourning the passing of a dream. If he feels any sorrow, it’s because the Doctor is dead and he’s about to be forced into a role he never wanted to fill, but he isn’t sorry for what he’s about to do. He’s feeling sorrow that things turn out this way, but he’s not going to back down. This is one of the things that I like most about the Doctor, but it also makes me a little bit afraid of him–his resolve is terrifying at times. This scene broke my heart, by the way, because I remember how adorable Eight was in the movie–he was such a sweetie!–and now he’s broken down and given up and that just hurt. *pounds on Life in general for being Evil* The way it’s played out, this scene is just so marvelously powerful, not least because of the word choice.
Also, kudos to Eight for being the only Doctor to double over rather than arching back during his regeneration.
Before the first rehearsals, actors working on a movie will sit down and read through the script together with the writers, producers, directors, etc. Not only does this show up any remaining grammatical errors, it also allows for any last minute changes to the script that might be necessary to add more depth to the characters. Does one of the lines just not sound right? Think about the character and then re-write it. Voice is extremely important.
Word choice and connotation, pauses and beats, intonation, volume, accent, and even misused words are your tools. You should be able to white out or even mix up the character’s names on a script and still be able to tell who said what. If you give it a decent try, maybe you’ll even be able to hear what each character “sounds” like. For now, forget the movie metaphor and the full sensory sweep. Consider the character’s socioeconomic background, history, the company he or she keeps, and so forth. How do they talk? How do they sound? Are there any misused words?
Can you hear your characters yet?
Hey Erin, I’m not sure if you saw it or not, but there’s gonna be a meet up on the backup wiki (the green one) if you wanna join. It’s taking place on the 16th at 8 PM CST.
And sorry for going off the radar for a month or so. My sis came back from college. I can finally get back to my computer. 😉
Okay… the green one? I’m not sure which one that is… Unfortunately I have to work that day. Sorry. :-S
The Cretions one. Bummer though. If you ever get some free time, feel free to hop in. 🙂
Okay! 🙂 Thanks.
Does the doctor usually apologize about things?
Sometimes even when it’s not necessary. Or at other times he forgets to.
Word choices with characters always fascinate me. There’s so much variety just between a small cast of characters. Even within a family. (I get a good study group within my own fam. The exaggerator. The understater. So forth.)
The action beats are important too. The way Eight kept pacing was the most obvious. Of course, I don’t know if he does that often, but it stood out to me. It seemed involuntary.
And, gosh, that video was sad. 😦
Yes! 🙂 That’s what I love about writing dialogue. I never seem to have much of a problem with stale dialogue–if it doesn’t feel fresh then I normally throw a wrench into the conversation and edit it later. 😉
I think from what I’ve seen that he does that when he’s upset, not so much when he’s thinking. He does move around quite a bit, but he only paces if he’s agitated. When he’s explaining things to a companion, emphatic hand gestures and sometimes bouncing or shifting weight from foot to foot. He’s got way more energy than the rest of us, which is completely unfair as he’s also much older than the rest of us. -_-
I KNOW! I love dialog. It’s one of the easier parts of writing for me and it’s so fun!
My new ISTP character is actually funny how different he is. He’s pretty funny, but he’s serious most of the time. Lots of techno-talk, situational and sarcastic humor. And also the logical thinking that’s one step ahead of everyone else and vaguely annoyed. 😛
Oh, he’d be easy to write then. I love inserting fidgets. XD None of my characters use their hands to gesture as much as I do. Wait… Wally, actually got my hand gestures. His constant drawing of invisible maps and unconcious hand waving. Cobalt mostly makes funny faces and squinches up his nose. XP
I just had this ADORABLE mental image of Eight squinching up his nose. *curls up and squeals from adorable*
XD I still think Cobalt and Eight would get on great. Though they would probably destroy a lot between the two of them. 😛
Or in the lab! “Cobalt, give me the thing–ouch! No, wrong thing!” X-D
OH MY GOODNESS YES. XD they would be hilarious! And both so apologetic afterwards. 😉
“Cobalt, run! No, the other way!” *throws some random object at the villain and runs*
I kinda want to make this into a roleplay now. X-D
*Cobalt runs into the doorframe on his way out and dents his helmet* XD
*throws a firecracker at the Daleks* Come on! I’ve got an idea!
*throws some dynamite at the Daleks, thinking it’s a firecracker and is slightly blasted forwards by the explosion* What is it?
*produces a Roman short sword from pocket and pries open an electrical box* First, let’s cause some confusion! *slashes the communication lines*
*indian war whoops* Easy enough. *takes off helmet and clanks fist on it*
Ummm… All right! *splices the sound into the PA system all over the ship* *hands Cobalt cotton balls* Do you know sign language?
A little… why?
*signs* I don’t want to risk my hearing. I’ve kept it for a thousand years; I’m determined not to lose it now. *makes a silly face*
Ah. *picks up a random laser gun off the ground* Know how to work this… Hey! Is that P.A. thing on? *leans over it* Boola-boola
*loops that through the sound system as well* *grins brightly* And now that we’ve sowed chaos and courted discord, let’s off to their command center and find out what they’re planning!
Yes, sir! *salutes* *plops on helmet and runs off down the hall*
*chases after you* *does an impressive front flip after tripping over a wire* *giggles rather inanely* Whoops!
Guard dude: *jumps out into the hall* Halt!
Cobalt: *fumbles around with the laser gun and takes a few shots*
Wait. Humans… and Daleks on the same ship? Something’s not right… *promptly gets knocked out*
What? *turns around* Oh, dang it. *stoops down to try and help and gets knocked out by another guard*
*comes around* Where’s the kitty?
*groans* *blinks a few times* whoa. Funky room.
*leaps to feet* We’re under siege! The Daleks must be fighting the humans right now!
*staggers on behind* and where is this now? I’ll just follow you…
*sonics the cell door open* Come on. We have to talk to their commanders!
*picks up a random metal bar on the way out* nice screwdriver, by the way.
Thank you. Don’t carry that like it’s a weapon! We don’t want to seem like a threat. Though… we may have already failed at that.
Alrighty. *uses it as a walking stick*
*facepalm* All right… now we’ve got to go find the general.
*looks around * no signs… I’d guess this way. *
Mmm… *uses the sonic screwdriver to check* This way’s as good as any, I suppose.
*gives metal stick a dramatic wave down the hall* Onwards, then! *starts walking kind of unquietly*
*marches boldly into the control center* Gentlemen! How goes the fight? *everyone stares at me*
*waves* Hey, everyone! Don’t mind us. *looks at the Doctor* or should they?
Commander, I understand you’re fighting a Dalek squadron.
Commander: And what makes this your business?
I’m the Doctor. It doesn’t matter if it’s my business or not.
Besides, commander, we’re sort of on the ship with you. If our lives are in danger, we have something of a right to know.
So. Daleks. How did you run into this lot, anyway?
Commander: More like they ran into us. Said we had invaded their territory.
((I have no clue if Daleks even HAVE territory. But that was the best I could come up with. 😛 ))
Well, that was going to happen sooner or later. We should start by trying to startle them into showing their hand.
((X-D Don’t worry, we’ll just make it up as we go along. :-P))
*looks around* It’s quiet at the moment… Mexican standoff, I’m guessing?
Let me have a look at this… ah, yes, here we are. *begins to sonic the communications equipment* *the video comes on–it’s a group of Daleks*
(Daleks) What is the meaning of this communication? Explain! Explain!
(Doctor) Explain yourselves. Yes, that’s right–the Doctor is here.
*taps the Doctor on the shoulder* Um… Would this or would this not give them more motivation to shoot us down?
*smiles* My dear Cobalt, I’m intending to spook them a little bit. Scared Daleks might be trigger-happy, but they’re also prone to making mistakes.
*notes the Dalek panic on the screen* Ah. It seems to be working.
*grabs your hand* It’s the perfect time to sneak aboard their ship and find out what they’re planning. Come on!
Awesome. *devious grin* *runs after you*
Through the air vents! *climbs up* *hoists you up*
*stands up with you* Alright. Is there a little pod ship or something we can zip over to theirs in?
No, they’re holding sectors of the same city. It would be easier to sneak in on foot.
Gotcha. Ready to sneak. *grins*
*crawls through a air shaft on my elbows* 😛
*manages to follow without clanging around too much. *whispers* how well can these dalek dudes hear?
They can hear all right. It’s filtering our noise out from the sounds of their own war that’s difficult for them.
Ah. Got it. *tries to be a little quieter* *mostly fails*
*laughs* This is the fun part!
Totally! *grins* Jean’s been the only one in ventilator shafts until now.
*Dalek noises get closer*
I think we’re almost there.
*goes very slowly* *whispers* there’s a grating up ahead. Are we going to drop through?
No. The one after that.
Okay. *peeks through the first grate as we go past* Man, they are seriously freaking out.
They don’t know what they’re hearing. It’s understandable.
*stops at the second grate* Ready to kick through whenever you are.
*swings down hard* Going Doooooooowwwwnnn!!!
*bursts through with you* *picks up the grate that clatters to the floor and holds it as a shield*
*smashes a Dalek’s casing with a piece of pipe* Quick. We’ve got to get to the Emperor.
They have an Emperor? Wow, classy. *smashes another one with the grate and starts to run down the hall*
*snorts* *bursts into laughter* *laughs while running and vaulting over random Daleks*
*runs into a closed door at the end of the hall* *tries it* Dang. Locked. *gets out screwdriver finger and works at it hurriedly*
You… you don’t need to do that, you know. I’ve got a sonic one.
Oh. *steps aside* Then be my guest.
*sonics the door open* Voila! Quick, this is a short cut 😉
I think I like your screwdriver better. *follows through the door*
*grins broadly* Thank you! Finally someone appreciates the sonic screwdriver. (X-P)
Seriously, it’s way better than this wimpy old thing. *comes to a big locked door* *waves to it* Do your thing. 😛
Maybe I’ll build you a sonic. *sonics the door*
That would be perfectly lovely. *grins*
*peeks in the door* Dark in here…
We’re getting close. *locks the door behind us* In case we’re being followed.
So is this king Dalek guy any bigger than the others? Or just more important?
I… I don’t know, actually. He’s the same size but normally he’s in a fancier shell.
Oh, I see. Jewels and stuff like that on the studs. *grins*
*Dalek noises in the hall ahead*
No, just a stranger-looking casing, really.
Get down!
*drops to the ground and holds grate out protectively*
We may have to retreat to the air vents again.
*looks up* Are there some in here?
Dalek voice: Intruders!
Quick! *leaps for the vent*
*jumps up with you* *pulls the grate over to hide us… maybe*
*whispers* There’s the Emperor… the octopus thing in the fancy glass jar and furniture arrangement.
Eww. *scrunches nose*
Right? *scrunches my nose too*
Daleks: *scanning around down on the floor* Searching… Searching…
*drops a screwdriver (not the sonic screwdriver) onto a Dalek* *the Dalek swivels around wildly, shooting at random* (Dalek) My vision is impaired, I can not see!
*dodges a shot* Well, this is partly good and partly bad.
Let’s get to the Emperor before the Daleks can regroup! *hurries down the shaft and drops out in front of the Emperor*
*drops down with you* *trips and falls over*
*pulls you upright* *points a chocolate bar at the Dalek Emperor* Tell your troops to stand down, Emperor!
Dalek Emperor: *recoils* What is this weapon?
Cobalt: Oh, you don’t even want to know. It’s extremely dangerous. Call them off before we have to use it.
You have a choice, Emperor. Either you turn your Daleks right around and leave this sector in peace, or I will stop you.
Dalek: *calls his troops off over mic*
((Feel free to veto that. I’m just tired and uncreative right now. :P))
((I’m actually not really up to continuing this either… *sigh*))
((Well, then. Happy ending.))
*shakes the Doctor’s hand* We should do this again sometime. It was fun. *grins*
Oh, completely. It was a pleasure to meet you, Cobalt. *waves as I walk away*
Totally unrelated, but I have watched a few minutes of this and for some reason never finished. Just recently I remembered it but could not for the life of me remember when or where I had watched it. I only know it was related to the day of the doctor episode and it never showed up in those and I was beginning to think I had lost my mind. Now I know. Thank you.
You’re welcome 🙂
*cries over the poor Doctor*
For some reason, I see the dark side of things… the scene where Cap rips a log in half with his bare hands freaked me out but everyone else laughed, and spoilers for the Force Awakens…