Terminology to use when there is multiple lines of indecipherable dialogue

[TBRays]

Hi,

I know I have seen it before in script and subtitled films. What terminology is used when there are multiple lines of dialogue that aren't wholly coherent. I have an audio flashback scene in my main character's mind in which several key phrases of dialogue come flooding back to him all at once. Thanks for your help.

 

[mus]

overlapping dialogue

 

[AudioPostExpert]

Are you referring to Walla, which is where you have a group of people talking but none of the dialogue is decipherable? It's usually but not always employed as a background sound FX.

G

 

[TBRays]

I'm referring to inaudible dialogue due to many layers of it all at once.

 

[maralyn]

There is no terminology for anything.

You need to describe your scene in a way that carries the audience, and captivates them. And it's all in the context of what's happening, technical terminology is dry, just use a little license...

they all speak at once, words jumble into incoherent sentences, overlapping and interjecting ...

Then just put in snippets and fragments of what is heard.

 

[AudioPostExpert]

I'm referring to inaudible dialogue due to many layers of it all at once.

If none of the dialogue is decipherable then it's walla, otherwise if snippets and fragments are heard it's overlapping dialogue.

There is no terminology for anything. You need to describe your scene in a way that carries the audience, and captivates them.

The screenplay isn't what carries the audience, it's the film which does that! So you need to communicate your scene to the director/filmmakers and that's why film terminology exists.

G

 

[maralyn]

Everyone reading your script is experiencing it the way the audience will be experiencing it. Including directors.

Everybody is audience on first read.