What Is the Walk and Talk?

The “walk and talk” refers to a type of storytelling technique in which two or more characters have a conversation as they are heading towards their destination. The walk and talk is often used to emphasize how busy the characters are, but the technique can also be used to quickly summarize important details in a dynamic way.

The early beginnings of the walk and talk featured actors walking obliquely to the frame edges rather than the commonly seen head-on framing that is used nowadays for walk and talks. This was because at the time (around the 1930s), smooth moving camera shots required dollies that ran on tracks. In using these tracks for head-on framing, the tracks posed a problem with potentially entering the shot as well as preventing actors from walking smoothly as they had to avoid tripping over the rails, so it made more sense at the time to set up the dolly tracks and cameras at an oblique angle to allow for a seamless walk and talk scene.

Nowadays, dollies have become much more versatile and no longer require track rails. In addition, the invention of the Steadicam introduced a new way of capturing fluid moving shots (learn more about the Steadicam here).

American television director Thomas Schlamme and American screenwriter, directory, producer, and playwright Aaron Sorkin are known for their frequent collaborations together in which Schlamme’s characteristic directing of the walk and talk is paired with Sorkin’s trademark rapid-fire dialogue. Their work is so notable that it was even parodied on Late Night with Seth Meyers:

“The Sorkin Sketch – Late Night with Seth Meyers” by Late Night with Seth Meyers

If you are looking for professional camera crew, including Steadicam operators, to expertly capture a walk and talk scene for your next project, check out our online Nevada Production Directory to find experienced Nevada production crew and support services or drop by our office and pick up a free printed directory!

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