Exposition… Oh, what number of feelings this phrase alone could evoke! Some hate it to the underside of their souls. Others overuse it in each script. There are even filmmakers who think about it an solely detrimental time period and a mistake solely rookies make. Effectively, let’s step again to details. A portion of exposition is important in each movie. At its finest, it might probably easily introduce the world, context, backstory, and a few plot factors with out the viewers even noticing it. At its worst, it feels clunky, unnatural, and painfully in-your-face. What can I say! Writing efficient exposition is an artwork kind by itself. Let’s check out some examples and attempt to distill the dos and don’ts for our future initiatives.
A fast disclaimer: “good” and “dangerous” are subjective phrases. Your opinion is likely to be completely different from mine, and that’s nice. Let’s alternate ideas! In any case, now we have a whole feedback part for it beneath. By honest and well mannered dialogue, we would uncover hidden gems and achieve new views.
What’s exposition, and why can we not keep away from it in movies?
Exposition is a literary time period that refers back to the background info the viewers wants to grasp the story. It’s a method that may present viewers with the character’s backstory, the world-building guidelines, context particulars, essential circumstances, or the rest that is likely to be vital to understanding the dramatic state of affairs. Most frequently, exposition exhibits up at first of a movie – however not at all times.
Within the MZed course “Writing 201,” seasoned director and screenwriter Seth Worley explains {that a} widespread option to convey some info to viewers is thru dialogue. That is referred to as “expositional dialogue,” and it signifies that two or extra characters alternate info important to the narrative. Whereas there are tips to make such a dialog seamless and pure, writers typically do it poorly, which may pull you out of the story.
Picture supply: MZed
Seth’s recommendation is to at all times ask your self, “Is what my characters are saying vital? Does the viewers really want to know the way they got here into this example?” If not, soar proper into the scene. You don’t have to ease in or clarify every piece of context. (For extra recommendations on writing good dialogue, head over right here.)
Conversely, if it is vital, there are different, higher methods to position exposition, and we’ll take a look at completely different sorts in a second. Simply keep in mind: In case your characters speak solely since you – the author – want them to, you then’re probably heading right into a harmful territory of poor, lazy writing.
Direct and apparent exposition in movies
Typically, filmmakers don’t trouble to cover exposition in any respect. Do you keep in mind the enduring Star Wars crawl: A very long time in the past in a galaxy far, far-off?
That is direct exposition, and it might probably additionally take many types. As an illustration, we could hear the story via the voice-over of the protagonist – a typical comedy method, however not the one one. Consider American Magnificence, which begins with Kevin Spacey’s character explaining his state of affairs on to us, after which planting a metaphorical bomb that sparks our curiosity. How, or how did he land on this?
The narrator doesn’t must belong to the cinematic world. It may be an impartial voice, like within the basic fairy story opener, “As soon as upon a time…” We all know it from fairy tales, and movies of an identical style use it as a conventional device. For instance, right here is the opening scene from Maleficent:
What unites these sorts of exposition? Honesty. The movie creators don’t attempt to conceal it. They put it on the market as if saying to the viewer: “Right here is the context. Get knowledgeable and accustomed. Our journey takes place below these situations.” In fact, that’s a stylistic alternative, which isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Personally, I’m not the largest fan of lengthy voice-overs, however, say, in case your story takes place in a really uncommon world, a little bit of direct exposition could be a completely legitimate possibility.
Present, don’t inform method
Motion pictures are a visible medium, which is why screenwriters like to repeat the mantra ‘Present, don’t inform.’ As a substitute of dumping info in dialogue, you may reveal it via pictures, motion, or character conduct.
Let’s take Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” for instance. It’s typically criticized for having an excessive amount of blatantly positioned exposition. Whereas the creators of the fantasy universe certainly want to clarify a variety of world guidelines and historical past, I discover their methods of doing so fairly elegant. Let’s rewatch the sparring scene between Paul Atreides and his mentor, Gurney Halleck:
What do we want this scene for? Does it deliver one thing new to the story? Is it vital to grasp the character of Timothée Chalamet? Frankly, probably not. We might even skip a few of the dialogue strains right here, and the scene wouldn’t lose something. What it does introduce us to is the idea of non-public shields. That little bit of worldbuilding will matter quite a bit later – and since it’s proven in motion, it doesn’t bore us and it sticks.
Feelings via actions
Whereas ‘present, don’t inform’ isn’t an absolute rule (some codecs rely extra on inform – particularly gentle TV exhibits that need to hold issues quick and simple), there’s an space the place it undoubtedly blossoms. Feelings. Emotional moments nearly at all times work higher via actions than phrases.
As an illustration, you most likely can keep in mind this awkward scene from Star Wars: Assault of the Clones, the place younger Anakin Skywalker confesses his emotions to Padmé. This was outrageously painful. Why? Let’s rewatch it collectively:
It’s not solely the stiff dialogue that makes it really feel unnatural. It’s as a result of individuals not often specific their feelings in such a direct means in actual life. On the whole, in case your character feels one thing, allow us to see it. If they’re nervous, present their shaking arms. If they’re terrified of monsters, allow us to hear their uneven respiration whereas they undergo the darkish corridor. If they’re in love, present their eyes, their smile, their tender makes an attempt to carry their lover’s hand. That is far more efficient and highly effective than making them expose their emotions in dialogue.
Explaining the world via a personality’s eyes
One other basic exposition method: Let the character (and viewers) study concerning the world collectively. Take into consideration how Paul in “Dune” watches a video about Arrakis. We get to know one thing concerning the planet, however on the identical time, the scene shouldn’t be for plain exposition. (To remind you: It raises the suspense via the assassination try on his life). The identical method is utilized in Twilight, the place Bella Swan learns about vampires by researching the Web. Maybe not the most effective instance, nevertheless it works nonetheless, because it does in Inception, the place Cobb explains the idea of constructing desires inside desires to his new architect Ariadne:
This works as a result of it feels genuine – the character wants the reason, and so will we. Nonetheless, beware: in genres like science fiction and fantasy, writers typically take issues too far. There’s a temptation to over-explain, layering exposition on high of exposition till it turns into a lecture. “Inception” principally will get away with it due to Christopher Nolan’s sharp pacing and visible storytelling, however even there, you may really feel the pressure at occasions.
The only rule right here is: If it feels to the viewer like exposition, then it’s dangerous exposition.
Exposition in movies for the sake of exposition
A giant no to me, personally, is when characters clarify issues to one another that they already know, simply to ship info to the viewers. Sadly, you’ll discover loads of this sort of dialogue in exhibits like The Witcher.
For example, for no motive in any respect, the characters race to a bridge, when considered one of them shouts: “Oh, look, the bridge!” They each see it. The viewers see it. What’s the purpose of claiming this line, then?
An excellent worse instance is when your character contains details that nobody would ever embrace in an actual dialog. Say, including to a greeting one thing like: “Hello, my finest good friend from school!”
Compelled reminders for the viewers
Fashionable exhibits typically assume their viewers is half-distracted, scrolling via a social media feed on their smartphones whereas watching one thing. (And let’s be trustworthy, that certainly occurs quite a bit!) That’s why some movies repeat themselves or replay scenes we’ve simply seen a couple of minutes earlier.
A distinguished instance of a sequence responsible of that is Squid Sport. Typically, when a personality has a realization, the present cuts again to one thing that actually occurred moments in the past – as if we wouldn’t keep in mind. Why, oh why? To me, it’s merely annoying. Belief your viewers. They’re smarter than you assume.
That mentioned, flashbacks could be helpful in the event that they introduce new info or add a layer of that means to one thing we’ve already seen.
Speaking via frames and never dialogue
And right here comes the visible subtext we speak quite a bit about in these articles! Specifically, creating pictures that talk for themselves with out requiring any dialogue.
The legendary Alfred Hitchcock was a grasp of this. In Rear Window, for instance, he makes use of an extended shot of neighbors’ residences to disclose who they’re, what they do, and what their lives appear to be. Is it exposition? Sure. One of many good, efficient sorts? For positive.
Utilizing mise-en-scène is one other method for silent but impactful exposition. Props, settings, costumes, and framing can ship details about characters and the cinematic world simply as powerfully as phrases. Oftentimes, far more so.
Conclusion
In fact, this matter is countless. There are additionally different particular varieties of exposition. As an illustration, characters ship it via breaking the fourth wall. We received’t dive into these for now, however in case you’d like, we will focus on them within the feedback.
All in all, exposition is usually unavoidable. The trick is figuring out the way to use it so it feels seamless, invisible, and even stunning. Keep in mind: Not the whole lot must be recognized. Solely embrace what’s actually crucial to grasp the story. Play with subtext. Use pictures. Let characters reveal issues via their actions, quite than via lectures. Belief your viewers. And above all: hold the story transferring.
We hope that this lengthy article was helpful. What about you? What’s the most effective instance of exposition you’ve ever seen in a movie or sequence – the one which simply labored with out feeling compelled? And which varieties of exposition do you like in your personal initiatives? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
Characteristic picture: movie stills from “Inception” by Christopher Nolan, 2010; “Dune: Half One” by Denis Villeneuve, 2021; overlayed with a basic intro crawl from “Star Wars.”
Full disclosure: MZed is owned by CineD.
