Exposition in Screenwriting: Balancing the Act
If you’re a writer, or just into film, you’ve probably heard some bro bitching about “exposition” at some point in your life.
The first time I heard the term, I thought it sounded fancy and intimidating. I was also mildly impressed by the obnoxious hipster who dropped it with nonchalant panache.
Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you - you deserve better.
Before we get too far though…
So, what is exposition?
“Exposition is the information an audience needs in order to understand the world of a story. Its main purpose is to shed light on people, places, and ideas in a storyworld so that the audience has the tools necessary to engage with the narrative.” * [Backstage]
Exposition could be information about your characters, the world they inhabit, and the events which set your story in motion.
Why do people love to complain about exposition?
Mostly because a lot of films (especially big budget block-busters) don’t bother to provide this information in an artful way. Also, they think it makes them look cool.
If exposition is laid on too thickly, it takes you out of the moment. Think of it as someone pausing a movie to give you a history lesson - unless you’re Adam McKay, it just kills the vibe.
When exposition is done right, the audience doesn’t even notice it’s there. It's all about slipping those details into your story in a way that feels natural. We want to make exposition work for your story, not against it.
Think of it as walking a tightrope. Too much and your audience is pulled out of the moment, drowning in details. Not enough, and they're lost. The art is to find a sweet spot – not too heavy, not too light – where everything just clicks.
Keep Dialogue Natural
Poor exposition loves to make it’s home in dialogue.
Sometimes it makes sense to add a little exposition here, but be careful! In-dialogue exposition is frequently hard to deliver for actors and oftentimes feels like a *nod, nod, wink, wink* with the audience.
Great examples include most Marvel movies after Endgame (don’t get me started): anytime a character explains information we “should” know from watching every single fucking movie or TV show they make? That’s exposition.
A great question to ask yourself:
Is the character saying something because the character needs to? Or because the writer needs them to?
Make sure this information sounds like a real conversation. Would people actually explain a whole bunch of backstory if both characters were there when it actually happened? Unlikely.
Do you call your friends by their first names all the time in Act 1? No. You’re friends, you barely use each others names when talking.
“As you know,” “So, You’re tellin’ me,” or “Remember?” are more red flags for poor exposition.
Generally speaking, I recommend you avoid including exposition in your dialogue as much as possible.
Show, Don’t Tell
Remember the golden rule – show, don't just tell. A screenplay that lets actions do the talking is a screenplay that hooks your audience. Let your characters’ actions, little quirks, and interactions with others do the heavy lifting, instead of spelling it all out. Keep the audience invested by letting them piece the story together.
Never underestimate the power of a good visual. A well-thought-out scene or the right prop can say a thousand words. Remember - film is a visual medium! Use it to your advantage.
Embrace 'Less is More'
When in doubt: less is more. Give your audience just enough to keep them hooked, without overwhelming them. An audience with questions is an engaged audience. We don’t need to know everything right away. You can think of high quality exposition like a puzzle game. Drop pieces here and there, and let your audience have the fun of putting it together. This keeps them engaged and adds layers to your story.
Don’t Expect Mastery Right Away
Nailing artful exposition in screenwriting comes from time and dedication spent mastering the craft. Embrace the fact that it will take several drafts and a significant amount of polishing before your exposition will lay out artfully. Expecting perfection in draft 1 will only hold you back. Put in the time to do this right, and you WILL be noticed.
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