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One of the program formats we discussed was the use of dramatization to achieve corporate communication or training goals. These media writing assignments offer a challenge that plays to the strengths of a writer skilled at screenwriting. You can develop situations that put characters in conflict. You bring your arsenal of dialogue writing to bear on the content. Many of my most satisfying corporate media writing assignments involved dramatizations. (Or, as I sometimes refer to them: the "industrial soap.") So, what are the similarities and differences between screenwriting and a corporate dramatization?
Screenwriting is meant to entertain. The corporate dramatization, by contrast, must convey specific content to achieve a communication or training outcome. Key points must be embedded in the dramatic situation and revealed through character interactions.
Frequently, these dramatizations center on situations encountered in the business world: the sales presentation, employment interviewing, counseling an employee. All these situations center on the dynamics of human interaction. And, there is inherent conflict. The sales person wants the prospect to buy. The prospect offers objections. The job interviewee wants employment. The interviewer wants to learn as much as possible about the applicant's background and aptitude.
Typically, such situations offer either positive or negative role models to be used as a training scenario.
The trick is to write convincing, compelling dialogue that also achieves the stated objectives. Dialogue that is wooden, unrealistic and contrived is a dead giveaway that the writer is unskilled in the genre. Follow the same principles you'd use in a screenplay and you're likely to meet with success.
Come into the scene as late as possible. Forego the "Hi, how are you?" and "Glad to meet you" stuff and cut to the chase.
Write conversationally while eliminating flab. People don't always talk in complete sentences-not even corporate Vice Presidents. Nor do people typically deliver long speeches. Remember that what goes unspoken can be as telling as what people say.
Give each character a distinctive voice. One that illuminates his or her education socio-economic status and attitude.
The big difference to screenwriting, however, is that you don't have as much room for letting the characters take over. You'll be constrained by the content points.
In a sales scenario, for instance, there's usually a prescribed structure the client wants the sales person to follow. Your challenge is to adhere to the role model while keeping the interaction realistic and credible.
But when you achieve the right balance-your screenwriting skills make a major contribution by putting the situation in a real world context. The believability you achieve enhances the overall training experience for learners.
It's dialogue writing-with a twist.
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