Interrogation is a great way to write exposition without it feeling like exposition. You could also put your characters in danger. The reader will be so focused on the danger that the exposition won't feel like exposition. And you could have your characters say exposition while they’re in a rush.
Do you know any other ways to write exposition without it feeling like exposition?
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Comedy also helps. It's like Blake Snyder's "Pope in the Pool." Something else needs to be happening in the background to distract the audience while still delivering the message.
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Thanks for commenting, Erin Leigh. Comedy and distractions are great ways to write exposition without it feeling like exposition!
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Amazing how many movies have a character find a coin behind a kid's ear. Haven't noticed, but wouldn't be surprised if some exposition is going on at the same time.
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I like that idea, Wal Friman! I might have to try it sometime. It'd be my first time writing a coin behind a kid's ear scene too. Thanks for the idea.
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Don't do it.
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I could put a twist on the coin behind a kid's ear scene, Wal Friman.
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Do it.
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A classic expositional trope is including a character who serves as a cipher for the audience. Someone who doesn't know the world of whatever the movie is about. Think about say...Jamie Gertz's character in Twister. She knows nothing about storm chasing therefore all of the characters need to explain it to her and by extension the audience.
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Oh yeah, Nick Phillips. Jamie Gertz's character in Twister. I remember watching that movie growing up and the exposition didn't feel like exposition. Thanks for commenting.
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The audience character is a great way.
A variation on this is the “explain it to me like I’m five” character. Bonus points if that person really is five, like in Ant Man 2. The FBI agent explains to Lang’s five year old daughter why Lang is under house arrest, catching the audience up on the events of the previous MCU film.
You can also get exposition out in an argument between characters. They drop info as ammunition in the fight.
Those are great ways to write exposition without it feeling like exposition, Mike Boas! I like all of them, especially the argument one! Thanks for sharing!
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Quid pro quo, make the character earn the exposition, usually by giving up something more interesting to the audience. This adds value on both sides, and typically is used to talk more about theme.
There's also a variation of what's known as "science-porn" where the exposition is weaved into genuinely interesting insider knowledge. An example of this is in Fight Club, where the protagonist's bag is being held and at airport and the guy behind the desk starts talking about vibrating luggage.
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Great ideas, CJ Walley! I haven't heard of "science-porn," and I'm not sure if I've seen it before. Yes, that means I haven't seen Fight Club yet. Slacking. Haha I'll have to try those out in scripts. Thanks for commenting!
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Science-porn is best applied to films like The Martian, where the nerdy stuff is presented in a pretty entertaining way. The Big Short is another film where the technicalities are part of the entertainment.
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Oh ok, CJ Walley. I've seen The Martian. Incredible film! I need to rewatch that movie and study it. The Big Short is on my watchlist. Thanks for explaining it more.
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Great post, Maurice Vaughan. I’m going to be trying out some of these tips, for sure.
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Thanks, Lisa Lee. Great! I hope the tips help!