How to write a screenplay without dialogue?

In EVERY film the screenplay includes the dialogue. There's no such thing as a 'screenplay without dialogue.' Even silent films had dialogue.

You describe the setting or what's happening. You pretty much do what a screen play does...and that's to create a blueprint for the film. You also have to remember to leave it very simple so that actors, production designers, cinematographers, and directors have leeway for creativity, vision, and improvisation. And by the way, the dialogue is NOT written by separate people or is it written separate from the scenery. The dialogue comes right after the Slugline, which involves the setting, or vision. edit: "meat" below me is a total idiot. No way is he a screenwriter. Of course you can have no dialogue in a screenplay. The point of a screenplay is to provide a blueprint for a film. Some films don't have dialogue in them (e.g. art films). It's even more prominent in short films that have a strong visual communication. It's up to the screenplay to provide the backdrop for those films. edit: And to prove him wrong, i'll provide a silent film (as "meat" was mentioning had no "dialogue"). Probably the greatest silent film and sci-fi film of all time, Metropolis which came out in 1927. http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/m/metropolis-script-transcript-fritz-lang.html And if you need more examples of screenplays without dialogue, just lemme know so you can kinda copy from the best and make it your own.

In EVERY film the screenplay includes the dialogue. There's no such thing as a 'screenplay without dialogue.' Even silent films had dialogue.

You won't be able to sell a screenplay that is only half written (e.g. no dialogue). When a film credits a separate writer for the dialogue, it just means that another writer has been brought in by the producer to rewrite existing dialogue. A screenplay should tell the film's story, scene by scene, including everything that needs to happen. So if you want to write a film in which people speak, you need to write the dialogue too. That's what a screenwriter does. If, say, you wanted to write a film that was all visuals, with no dialogue required, you'd just write each scene out like normal but without dialogue! Imagine the scenes shot-by-shot in your head and just write what happens. Try reading the script for 127 Hours, which contains long periods without dialogue. http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/127-Hours.html (Just ignore all the 'cut-to's and 'we see's - they're not wanted in a selling script.)

A screenplay has Dialogue and Action, so you would just write the Action. Look at this: http://www.screenwriting.info/05.php

Just don't write anything.

I agree with The Godfather in regards to Meat. But not in regards to Metropolis. There's dialogue in the original script, it's just transferred to the scene cards. They just didn't have the ability to put the sound on screen at that time. And no different people don't write dialogue and action, though you can be brought in to, "Punch up," the existing dialogue in a script. Which really just gives you an idea of what they'd like looked at, you end up doing a complete rewrite anyway. When I was first starting out I made a short with no dialogue. The idea was to create a film that wouldn't need subtitles if we sold it in foreign markets or got it into a non English speaking festival. As 80% of communication is non verbal, it turned out pretty well. So having done it, the trick is effective scene direction on the page and then lots of meetings with your director and cinematographer to work out an effective shot list. Finally you're going to need a good actor because there's going to be lots of close ups. I'm a produced writer with feature film and TV credits.

It sounds like you wanna direct. work together with someone who can write dialogue and help them add story structor and plot. Then add everything else in when you direct. Thats pretty much a directors job, interpreting the dialogue of a script.

You won't be able to sell a screenplay that is only half written (e.g. no dialogue). When a film credits a separate writer for the dialogue, it just means that another writer has been brought in by the producer to rewrite existing dialogue. A screenplay should tell the film's story, scene by scene, including everything that needs to happen. So if you want to write a film in which people speak, you need to write the dialogue too. That's what a screenwriter does. If, say, you wanted to write a film that was all visuals, with no dialogue required, you'd just write each scene out like normal but without dialogue! Imagine the scenes shot-by-shot in your head and just write what happens. Try reading the script for 127 Hours, which contains long periods without dialogue. http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/127-Hours.html (Just ignore all the 'cut-to's and 'we see's - they're not wanted in a selling script.)