Walk and talk

Walk and talk is a storytelling technique used in

television production in which a number of characters have a conversation while walking somewhere. Walk and talk often involves a walking character who is then joined by another character. On their way to their destinations, the two talk. Variations include interruptions from other characters and walk and talk relay races

, in which new characters join the group and one of the original characters leaves the conversation, while the remaining characters continue the walking and talking.

Purpose

The technique is frequently used as a means of emphasizing how busy the characters are. It suggests that there is so much to do and so little time to do it in that even traveling time must be used to serve additional functions. It also serves the purposes of smoothing transitions from one location to another and adding visual interest to what might otherwise be static "talking heads" sequences. The main

The West Wing, The Bill, House, Ugly Betty, ER and Grey's Anatomy

.

The Walk and Talk technique is also often used as a way of combining

Simon in Serenity) and television (the similar conversation between Sinclair and Lyta in the pilot episode of Babylon 5, "The Gathering"). This use of the technique is regularly seen in opening scenes in the UK series Hollyoaks

as a way of recapping current story lines and showing how the plot streams interrelate with the characters.

Use

An early use of the technique is in the British police procedural The Bill, and it was used widely on St. Elsewhere but it was arguably popularized by ER, which used the technique to get doctors from place to place.

Director

The West Wing, and it remains a favorite of Sorkin, who continued its use in his show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

.

In both shows, Sorkin has at times referenced his own use of the technique in character dialogue. One example of this can be found in the West Wing first-season episode "

Talking Points

", in which Josh and Donna have a "walk-and-not-talk;" Donna is upset with Josh, and the two walk several stretches of hallway together without talking at all.

Sorkin later parodied the technique during a guest stint on 30 Rock in the season 5 episode "Plan B". Sorkin and show star Tina Fey are each waiting their turn for a meeting, when they engage in conversation. Sorkin suggests they "walk and talk", and they end up meandering through the hallways of the office building for about a minute before they end up back where they started.

In Late Night with Seth Meyers, the "Sorkin Sketch" parodies Sorkin's signature writing including walk and talk, where Meyers and an employee converse about the subject while walking down the hallway.

References

^ "Search or Browse The West Wing Transcripts -- View or Search transcripts and summaries". westwingtranscripts.com.

[1] "Search or Browse The West Wing Transcripts -- View or Search transcripts and summaries". westwingtranscripts.com.

Purpose

Use

See also

References