A Common Error That Deflates Conflict

Many writers fall into a common trap of failing to keep conflict alive throughout the twists and turns that characters must navigate while driving toward their goals.

If that’s the symptom, then what’s the cause?

How many movies have you watched where the tension grinds to a halt during a scene where characters purely divulge information?

What's worse, the characters themselves often already know the information, but the screenwriter felt that the audience would get lost without it, and so we get a classic but flawed data-dump monologue or a scene where a character who should know better has to act dumb and ask a lot of simple questions so others can toss out exposition.

Any yet the sentiment to provide information is not wrong, for you do not want your audience to mentally check out because they are confused about what's going on in a world or setting with which they might have little or no experience.

Understanding Exposition in Screenwriting

There’s a brilliant scene in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer where the protagonist explains to General Groves that there is a near-zero chance of igniting the entire atmosphere and destroying all life on Earth when they test their first nuclear explosion.

It’s a master class on how to teach an audience the mechanism of a complex topic in the simplest, most conflict-rich way possible.

• General Groves’ first line gives us the stakes of what happens if they don’t get the result (goal) they have been working toward.

• Oppenheimer reassures Groves that they will succeed.

• Then Groves’ mentions that Enrico Fermi has been talking about “atmospheric ignition”. It’s both a call back to an earlier conversation Oppenheimer had with Hans Bethe and Fermi, and it’s General Groves letting Oppenheimer that he and his team is gathering information from all the labs. Oppenheimer, though scientific head of the program, isn’t the only source of information for the man truly in charge. All that conveyed in 7 words!

• They linger on the deeper meaning of the term for four or five lines, back and forth. But it’s not just information transfer. Groves wants reassurances and to mitigate risk. Oppenheimer wants to downplay the dangers so that the theories can be proven experimentally. At this point Oppenheimer cares more about his legacy in physics than he does about the dangers of what he’s about to unleash.

• It’s all done in a page and a half. That’s about 1.5 minutes out of a 3 hour movie.

• Character wants and goals within the scene are in conflict. Keep that ever present and you earn the the license to divulge information to the audience.

Clever (Yet Potentially Dangerous) Techniques for Judiciously Injecting Exposition

1. Dialogue:

   • Conflict: Exposition can emerge naturally when characters argue or have a heated discussion. Humans naturally focus on conflict and heightened emotions, so conveying information at this time won’t be as noticeable.

   • Conversations with Outsiders: Use a character new to the story's world to whom other characters, such as mentors or experts, must explain things. This type of character is a stand-in for the audience. Be judicious with the amount of information and give just enough information to pique curiosity and imply another open-ended question that will likely be answered in a later scene.

   • Gossip/Rumors: Characters discussing events, especially when some information is true and some is exaggerated or false. As with all these techniques

2. Visuals:

   • Montage: A series of quick scenes or images can convey background information efficiently. Using this technique is best when you need to condense time and show a difficult to attain change being earned. A warning: many story experts view the montage as a crutch, so it's best to dissect films with "good" and "bad" examples so that you understand the finer points of what makes a quality montage.

   • Set Design: Details in the background, like photographs, objects, and decor, can tell a lot about the characters and setting without a word being spoken.

   • Action: Characters' actions and reactions can provide insight into their past and the world they inhabit.

3. Flashbacks (or Flashforwards):

   • Interspersed Memories: Short, vivid flashbacks integrated into the current timeline can reveal crucial backstory. See Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films for perfect examples of flashforwards, with scant dialogue, of potential futures that make complete sense given they happen to a character who is beginning to manifest the powers of prescience (AKA predicting the future).

   • Narrative Flashbacks: Longer scenes that transport the audience to a previous time to provide context.

4. Voiceover:

   • Narration: A character or an omniscient narrator can provide commentary or insights directly to the audience. For a seamless example, see American Beauty. For an example that uses voiceover as a crutch to tell instead of show character motivations and describe conflict that isn’t actually played out in scenes, see Saltburn.

   • Internal Monologue: Hearing a character's thoughts can reveal their inner world and past experiences. This works better in novels than in film. See David Lynch's Dune for an extreme, spectacularly failed attempt where this was implemented for more than ten different characters!

5. Textual Elements:

   • Title Cards: Text on the screen can quickly convey historical context, time jumps, or location changes. The Star Wars opening crawl is the best known example. Wes Anderson also puts his own unique spin on this technique.

   • News Reports/Articles: Newspapers, TV broadcasts, and online articles within the story can inform the audience about the world.

   • Again, you must be careful not to automatically rely on this type of solution to your information problem. Remember the old adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words." Getting an audience to read a mere five words can be a monumental ask. That said, see Oliver Stone’s JFK for several techniques of this type that show the intricacies of digging for the truth of an event as investigators wade through reams of documentation.

Reasons Exposition Might Be Necessary

1. Setting the Scene:

   • Establishing the story's world, including time period, location, and cultural context.

2. Character Development:

   • Revealing characters' backgrounds, motivations, relationships, and conflicts to build depth and empathy.

3. Plot Foundation:

   • Providing essential information about past events that impact the current story and drive the plot forward.

4. Clarifying Stakes:

   • Explaining what is at risk, what characters stand to gain or lose, and why it matters.

5. Theme and Tone:

   • Introducing the story's central themes and setting the appropriate tone to guide audience expectations.

6. Avoiding Confusion:

   • Ensuring the audience understands complex plot points, historical references, or specialized terminology.

Another Practical Application

To illustrate these points further, let's consider a scene from "The Godfather" (1972)…

INT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Michael Corleone walks briskly down the dimly lit corridor, the faint sound of his footsteps echoing. The once bustling hospital now feels eerily quiet.

He reaches Vito Corleone’s room, only to find it deserted, the guards conspicuously absent.

MICHAEL

(stopping in the doorway, scanning the room)

Pop?

Vito lies unconscious on the bed, hooked up to a myriad of machines. Michael's face tightens with resolve.

Michael moves to the bedside, gently adjusting his father's blankets. He leans in, whispering.

MICHAEL

It’s okay, Pop. I’m here.

He straightens, hearing a noise from the hallway. He steps out cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he sees a lone nurse approaching.

MICHAEL

(to the nurse, firm but quiet)

Where are the guards?

NURSE

(puzzled)

I don’t know. They were here earlier.

Michael’s jaw sets. He knows what this means. He looks at the nurse, his expression intense.

MICHAEL

We need to move him. Now.

The nurse hesitates but nods, sensing the urgency. Together, they wheel Vito’s bed down the hall, Michael constantly glancing over his shoulder.

As they turn a corner, they run into Enzo the baker (who asked Don Corleone for a favor in an earlier scene), holding flowers, looking nervous.

ENZO

(stammering)

I... I came to pay my respects.

Michael quickly assesses the situation, a plan forming in his mind. He hands Enzo his cigarette.

MICHAEL

Take this. Stand outside.

ENZO

Outside?

MICHAEL

(nodding)

Pretend you’re guarding him.

Enzo’s hands shake as he takes the cigarette, but he nods, understanding. He heads towards the entrance.

Michael takes a deep breath, the weight of his family's future heavy on his shoulders. He steps back into the shadows, waiting.

---

Subtextual Elements Masterfully Utilized:

1. Michael’s Transformation:

- His calm yet authoritative demeanor hints at his evolving role from the reluctant son to a decisive leader. He recruits help from whomever he can in the moment.

2. Absence of Guards:

- The missing guards immediately signal danger without needing explicit dialogue. Michael's reaction conveys the gravity of the situation.

- Imagine if Michael had instead said to the nurse…

MICHAEL

Where are the guards? I scheduled four shifts of three guards each, to protect my father twenty-four seven, with one watching the front of the hospital, one at the elevators, and the other on my father’s door, because in his weakened state he is vulnerable to assassination by a rival group of nefarious people.

- The action would have ground to a halt, right? The audience would be trying to understand and imagine the logistics of where all those men were without the benefit of actual shots, how they were supposed to communicate with each other if bad men arrived—do they have walkie talkies?—what happened when shifts changed, etc. Boring and lazy!

3. Dialogue with the Nurse:

- The brevity and urgency in Michael's dialogue with the nurse show his quick thinking and the dire circumstances.

4. Interaction with Enzo:

- Enzo’s nervousness and Michael’s calm instructions emphasize Michael’s control and tactical mind, reinforcing his emerging leadership. Michael is also subtly leveraging the favor he received from Don Corleone in an early scene. Michael is truly beginning to take on his father’s mantle.

5. Visuals and Actions:

- The empty hallway, the quiet hospital, and Michael's careful movements build tension and suspense, enhancing the sense of looming threat.

By employing subtext and judicious exposition, the scene conveys Michael’s character development and the perilous situation through setting, actions, expressions, and minimal dialogue, making it a masterfully written scene.

Exposition is a fundamental tool in screenwriting, essential for providing the audience with the necessary background information about the setting, characters, and plot. The challenge lies in delivering this information in a way that doesn't disrupt the flow of the conflict, power dynamics, and action.

Clever techniques to weave exposition seamlessly into your screenplay include using setting or location, set design, a “green” character who acts as a stand-in for the audience, flashbacks, voiceover narration, and textual elements.

In addition, subtext adds depth to your screenplay by allowing characters to express underlying meanings and emotions without explicitly stating them. Mastering subtext involves showing rather than telling, using actions, visuals, and nuanced dialogue to reveal the true intentions and backgrounds of your characters.

Conclusion

Incorporating exposition and subtext effectively can transform your screenplay, making it more engaging and layered. By employing techniques like subtext in dialogue, visually intriguing scenes, opening information loops that don’t get closed until later scenes, and blending action with dialogue, you can deliver essential information without halting the narrative's momentum.

Remember, the goal is to keep the audience invested in your story while subtly guiding them through the necessary background details.

For screenwriters new and seasoned alike, refining these skills will elevate your storytelling, creating richer and more immersive experiences for your audience. As you continue to hone your craft, consider how you can hide exposition and reveal subtext in innovative ways, keeping your viewers intrigued and emotionally connected to your characters and their journeys.

Until next time…

Keep creating, keep dreaming, and let’s open some doors together!

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