4.1 Show, don't tell
4 min read•august 20, 2024
Screenwriting is all about showing, not telling. By focusing on actions, visuals, and , writers create immersive stories that engage viewers on a deeper level. This approach allows audiences to experience the narrative firsthand, rather than being told what's happening.
Effective showing techniques include using vivid , revealing character through actions, and crafting with subtext. Writers must balance showing with selective telling, avoiding excessive details while providing enough information to paint a clear picture for the audience.
Importance of showing in screenwriting
- Showing engages the audience by allowing them to experience the story through the characters' actions, emotions, and interactions
- Creates a more immersive and compelling narrative that draws the viewer into the story world
- Allows for subtext and nuance in storytelling, as the audience can interpret the meaning behind characters' actions and dialogue
Limitations of telling
- Telling often results in exposition-heavy dialogue that feels unnatural and can bore the audience
- Relies on characters explicitly stating their thoughts, feelings, and motivations, which can come across as contrived and inauthentic
- Fails to take advantage of the visual medium of film, as it doesn't show the story unfolding through images and actions
Techniques for showing
Use of visual imagery
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Farinella | Of Microscopes and Metaphors: Visual Analogy as a Scientific Tool | The Comics Grid ... View original
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Frontiers | Emotional Responses to Visual Art and Commercial Stimuli: Implications for ... View original
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Farinella | Of Microscopes and Metaphors: Visual Analogy as a Scientific Tool | The Comics Grid ... View original
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- Incorporate specific, vivid descriptions of settings, characters, and objects to create a strong visual impression
- Use metaphors and similes to evoke emotions and convey deeper meaning through imagery
- Describe characters' appearances, mannerisms, and movements to reveal their personalities and emotional states
Character actions vs exposition
- Show characters' motivations, desires, and conflicts through their actions and decisions rather than having them state these things outright
- Use behavior and choices to reveal characters' true nature and development throughout the story
- Rely on characters' interactions with their environment and other characters to convey information about their background, beliefs, and goals
Subtext in dialogue
- Craft dialogue that hints at characters' underlying thoughts and feelings without explicitly stating them
- Use characters' word choices, tone, and delivery to suggest deeper meanings and hidden agendas
- Include pauses, interruptions, and nonverbal cues in dialogue to create tension and convey unspoken emotions
Showing character emotions
Facial expressions and body language
- Describe characters' facial expressions (furrowed brows, pursed lips) to show their emotional state
- Use body language (fidgeting, crossing arms) to reveal characters' comfort level, confidence, and reactions to others
- Incorporate physical reactions (blushing, trembling) to show characters' visceral responses to events and interactions
Actions that reveal inner thoughts
- Have characters engage in activities that reflect their mental state (pacing, fidgeting with objects) to show anxiety or restlessness
- Use characters' treatment of objects (slamming doors, gently handling a memento) to reveal their emotions and attachment to those items
- Show characters' decision-making process through their actions (hesitating before making a choice, impulsively acting on emotions) to convey their inner conflict
Showing story world
Sensory details
- Incorporate descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to create a rich, immersive story world
- Use to evoke specific moods and atmospheres (the acrid smell of smoke, the gentle rustling of leaves) that enhance the narrative
- Tie sensory details to characters' experiences and emotions to make the story world more personal and relatable
Specific settings vs generic descriptions
- Use precise, vivid descriptions of locations (a cramped, dimly-lit studio apartment) rather than generic terms (a small apartment) to create a unique sense of place
- Incorporate details that reflect the story's themes, tone, and characters' personalities into the setting descriptions
- Show how characters interact with and are affected by their surroundings to make the story world feel more dynamic and interconnected
Balancing showing and telling
When telling is necessary
- Use telling sparingly to convey essential background information or context that cannot be easily shown through action or dialogue
- Employ telling to summarize events or provide brief transitions between scenes to maintain pacing and clarity
- Rely on telling for minor, less important details that don't warrant a full showing to keep the story focused and streamlined
Avoiding excessive details
- Be selective in the details you choose to show, focusing on those that are most relevant to the characters, plot, and themes
- Avoid over-describing settings, actions, or emotions, as this can slow the pace and detract from the story's impact
- Strike a balance between providing enough detail to create a vivid picture and leaving room for the audience's imagination to fill in the gaps
Examples of effective showing
Analysis of film scenes
- Study how successful films use techniques to convey character, emotion, and story without relying on exposition
- Break down scenes to identify specific elements (camera angles, blocking, production design) that contribute to showing rather than telling
- Examine how dialogue, actions, and visual cues work together to create subtext and depth in a scene
Excerpts from screenplays
- Read and analyze passages from well-written screenplays that demonstrate effective use of showing techniques
- Compare the written descriptions in the screenplay to how those elements are translated visually on screen
- Identify how screenwriters use specific, evocative language to convey visual information and guide the reader's imagination
Exercises for practicing showing
Writing prompts
- Use writing prompts that focus on describing settings, characters, and actions in vivid, sensory detail
- Practice writing scenes that convey character emotions and motivations through behavior and dialogue rather than exposition
- Experiment with using subtext and visual imagery to suggest deeper meanings and themes in your writing
Scene rewrites
- Take a scene from your own writing or a published screenplay and rewrite it to emphasize showing over telling
- Identify opportunities to replace expository dialogue with , visual cues, and subtext
- Refine your descriptions of settings, characters, and actions to create a more immersive and visually engaging scene
Key Terms to Review (16)
Action Sequences: Action sequences are dynamic and visually engaging segments in a film that involve physical feats, confrontations, or chases. They are designed to create excitement and tension, often advancing the plot and character development through kinetic storytelling. These sequences rely heavily on visual elements, sound design, and choreography to convey emotion and intensity, emphasizing the principle of showing rather than telling.
Audience Inference: Audience inference refers to the process by which viewers or readers draw conclusions about a narrative based on subtle cues and details provided within the story, rather than explicit statements. This concept emphasizes the importance of showing rather than telling, allowing the audience to engage actively with the material and form their interpretations based on visual storytelling, dialogue, and character actions.
Character actions: Character actions refer to the behaviors and decisions made by characters in a narrative, revealing their motivations, personalities, and emotional states. These actions serve as a primary means of storytelling, allowing the audience to infer deeper meanings and connect with the characters on an emotional level. Rather than merely stating a character's traits or feelings, effective character actions embody the principle of 'show, don't tell,' immersing viewers in the story through vivid, engaging portrayals.
Character interactions: Character interactions refer to the ways in which characters communicate, behave, and influence each other within a narrative. These exchanges can reveal their personalities, motivations, and relationships, driving the story forward and enhancing emotional engagement. How characters react to one another can create conflict, foster growth, and shape the overall tone of the narrative.
Composition: Composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a frame in film and photography. It plays a crucial role in storytelling by guiding the viewer’s eye and conveying meaning through the organization of space, color, and shapes. A well-thought-out composition enhances the emotional and thematic impact of a scene, helping to create a more engaging experience for the audience.
Dialogue: Dialogue refers to the spoken exchanges between characters in a screenplay, serving as a crucial tool for revealing personality, advancing the plot, and conveying themes. It connects deeply with character development, as well as the way stories are structured and presented on screen. Good dialogue is not just about what characters say but how they say it, reflecting their emotions and motivations.
Emotional Resonance: Emotional resonance refers to the ability of a narrative to evoke deep feelings in the audience, creating a powerful connection between the viewer and the characters or situations presented. This connection is crucial for storytelling, as it enhances the impact of dialogue, visuals, and overall narrative structure, making experiences more relatable and memorable.
Framing: Framing is the technique used in film to determine how subjects and elements are positioned within the frame, influencing how viewers perceive and interpret the visual storytelling. It plays a crucial role in guiding the audience's attention, emphasizing certain details, and setting the mood or tone of a scene. By manipulating framing, filmmakers can convey complex emotions and relationships without the need for dialogue.
Imagery: Imagery refers to the use of descriptive language that evokes sensory experiences, allowing the audience to visualize scenes, hear sounds, and feel emotions within a narrative. It plays a crucial role in storytelling by creating vivid pictures and enhancing the reader's connection to the story, making the experience more immersive and emotionally engaging.
Implied meaning: Implied meaning refers to the underlying significance or message conveyed indirectly through dialogue, character actions, or visual storytelling, rather than being explicitly stated. It plays a crucial role in how audiences interpret the nuances of communication and the depth of characters' emotions, allowing for richer storytelling that engages viewers on multiple levels.
Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one is the other, helping to convey deeper meaning and create vivid imagery. It goes beyond literal language to imply connections and evoke emotions, enhancing the richness of dialogue and visual storytelling. By using metaphor, writers can express complex ideas succinctly, allowing audiences to grasp nuances without explicit explanations.
Mood: Mood refers to the emotional atmosphere that a piece of writing creates for the reader. It can evoke specific feelings through word choice, imagery, and setting, allowing the audience to connect with the characters and events on a deeper level. Crafting mood effectively enhances storytelling by guiding the audience's emotional responses and immersing them in the narrative.
Sensory details: Sensory details are descriptions that appeal to the senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell—creating a vivid and immersive experience for the audience. By incorporating sensory details, writers can evoke emotions and paint a picture in the minds of readers or viewers, allowing them to fully engage with the narrative and understand the characters' experiences in a more relatable way.
Subtext: Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or message that exists beneath the surface of dialogue or action. It reveals characters' true emotions, motivations, or intentions without explicitly stating them, adding depth to storytelling and allowing audiences to engage more deeply with the narrative.
Viewer engagement: Viewer engagement refers to the active involvement and emotional connection that an audience has with a film or visual media. It encompasses how well a story, character, or visual technique captures the audience’s attention and encourages them to invest in the narrative. Engaging viewers can significantly enhance their overall experience and is achieved through various storytelling techniques, such as visual storytelling and editing styles that evoke emotions and build tension.
Visual Storytelling: Visual storytelling is the art of conveying a narrative or message through visual media, such as film, photography, or animation. It emphasizes the use of images, colors, compositions, and movement to express ideas and emotions, making it a crucial element in the craft of writing for screen. This technique relies heavily on showing rather than telling, allowing audiences to interpret and engage with the story on a deeper level.