Why Do Stories Include Exposition

One of the most basic functions of every moving picture is to communicate data over a length of time to an audition. How this pic is communicated oft determines how engaged an audience may be. One of the about hard types of data to weave naturally into a story is exposition. What is exposition? In this article, we'll define exposition and take a await at a few examples of how exposition in film tin can be implemented without disengaging an audience.

Watch: How to Write Exposition That Works

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Exposition Definition

Beginning, let's define exposition

Exposition can be delivered through many vehicles, but all serve a basic function. What does exposition mean? Before we dive into the ways of implementing it into a script, let's first constitute an exposition definition.

EXPOSITION DEFINITION

What is exposition?

Exposition is a comprehensive description or explanation to get across an idea. It is a device used in tv, films, poetry, music, and plays. Exposition in literature is a writer'south way to give background information to the audition about the characters and setting of the story. This exposition definition applies straight to picture show. Which can be dialogue, narration, or even visual data that helps the audience better understand what is going on in the story.

What is exposition used for?

Reveal theme
Depict the story world
Entice audience curiosity
Establish the rules of a movie
Reveal more than most grapheme

What is exposition of a Story

The purpose of exposition

At that place are many secrets to writing slap-up exposition in a screenplay. Just they all rely on its main function. The purpose of exposition is to reveal details effectually the circumstances that environs a motion-picture show's narrative. This can be character traits, motivations, background information or themes that all permit the audition to further comprehend the cardinal narrative of a film.

Expository "info dumps" often get a bad rep when they aren't used well. But it can be a necessary component for a film to office. Using the right tools gives exposition meaning.

Exposition in movie can often be difficult to implement naturally. Likewise piddling and the audition becomes confused — too much and the audience becomes disengaged. The correct corporeality of exposition is usually a production of a filmmaker trusting the audience's power to be able to put things together. Information technology'due south also recognizing what information is absolutely necessary for them to know.

This video by Lessons from the Screenplay examines howEx Machina executes the balance of information perfectly to continue the audition engaged throughout.

Exposition Examples in Ex Machina

Have notation of how writer/director Alex Garland cut pages of expository cloth from the final cut of the film. He did this because he trusted the ability of the audience to put things together. This is an important aspect that is oftentimes disregarded. It can event in information being spoon-fed to audiences through lengthy dialogue scenes or completely unnatural conversations.

So how exactly do filmmakers implement this information naturally into a film while keeping the narrative engaging? The showtime manner is through visuals — using what we come across instead of what we hear.

Visual Exposition Examples

Ascertain exposition with visuals

Visual exposition is ofttimes more engaging, but also more difficult to pull off. Sometimes it is used through the mise-en-scene of a scene. For instance, a grapheme'southward bedroom ofttimes reveals their personality traits. Let's say a character really loves stone 'n' roll music. Having them say, "I dear rock 'n' curlicue" would get the job washed. But having their room decorated with posters, albums, and concert tickets would be more organic.

Using visual aids is amidst our listing of tips in this video breakdown of how to write exposition into a screenplay. Watch how Jurassic Park makes the genius decision to reveal scientific jargon and concepts through an educational video.

How to Define Exposition in Film

This scene is extremely efficient at communicating information. But not every narrative has the luxury of introducing a concept in a affair-of-fact video. To incorporate crucial information into a flick visually and organically, it is up to the script must first entice curiosity in the audition.

A film that does this brilliantly is The Matrix . If you read The Matrix screenplay, you'll come across how it uses visual information when it answers the moving-picture show'due south most burning question: "What is the Matrix?"

We brought The Matrix screenplay into the StudioBinder'southward screenwriting software to break it downwardly. In this scene, Neo and the audience first encounter "the real world."

The scene enables the audience to understand the central narrative of the picture and how the world of the pic operates.

What is Exposition - The Matrix Example - StudioBinder Screenwriting Software

What's the Exposition in The Matrix • Read Full Scene

This video breaks downwardly diverse activeness sequences that also serve as visual story and plot information.

The Matrix • Exposition Examples

As shown in the video essay, The Matrix does not merely use visuals to exposit fundamental data. Only in that location are other means of communicating the plot details of a story that utilizes what a character says to the audience or to the other characters.

What is exposition through voice over?

Exposition pregnant in narration

Beyond the visual elements of a film, filmmakers also apply sound to communicate data. One of the near efficient ways to do this is through phonation over narration.

When information technology is executed well, narration can connect an audience to a film'due south protagonist while communicating vast amounts of information over a curt amount of fourth dimension.

Few filmmakers practise narration better than Martin Scorsese. Voice over narration is a common aspect of Scorsese'due south directing style and screenplays.

In this scene from Goodfellas , Scorsese uses voice over narration to establish Henry'due south backstory, introduce the ability of the mob, and highlight Henry'due south motivations. This is done all inside 3 minutes.

Goodfellas makes a valid instance for voiceover in moving picture

For more than exposition examples in The Goodfellas script, download and read the entire screenplay. By using voice over narration, filmmakers have a fashion to directly communicate exactly what they want to the audience. This tin can be both a adept and bad thing depending on how you write a voice-over in a screenplay.

Narration can often spoon-feed audiences data or disengage them completely. It is important to utilize narration with restraint. This means letting it complement the visuals rather than take over the scene completely.

WHAT IS EXPOSITION IN DIALOGUE?

Evangelize exposition through dialogue

I of the more engaging means to include vital info is through dialogue. What is exposition in dialogue used for?

Dialogue is one of the more difficult ways to lay out the details of a story. Poor dialogue is often criticized for being unnatural. When used naturally, it can be incredibly effective.

Have a expect at this video that analyzes exposition examples in dialogue — both poor and great examples that make a scene memorable.

What's exposition in dialogue?

As you tin run across, skilful expository dialogue has to be motivated. When information technology isn't, it becomes "on the nose" and can distract or undo an audience. Writing realistic dialogue can exist difficult, but can also exist the most natural and effective way to communicate information to an audience.

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Tips for writing great exposition

What is exposition? It's an opportunity to bring the audience into the film. Now that yous understand the importance of handling this information carefully and how it can be necessary for a film to function, read on to acquire about specific tips and techniques that will assist you implement exposition seamlessly into your script.

Upward Next: Writing great exposition →