Action Quote by Akira Kurosawa
“Something that you should take particular notice of is the fact that the best scripts have very few explanatory passages. Adding explanation to the descriptive passages of a screenplay is the most dangerous trap you can fall into. It’s easy to explain the psychological state of a character at a particular moment, but it’s very difficult to describe it through the delicate nuances of action and dialogue. Yet it is not impossible. A great deal about this can be learned from the study of the great plays, and I believe the ‘hard-boiled’ detective novels can also be very instructive.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Various screenwriting interviews, 1970s
Effective scripts rely on showing, not telling, using action and dialogue to reveal character emotions.
In simple terms: Show, don’t tell in storytelling.
Key Takeaway
Use visual cues over exposition.
Themes
screenwriting
show-don’t-tell
character development
Mood
creative
analytical
Type
instructional
inspirational
When to use this quote
- film production
- playwriting
- novel drafting
- director workshops
Key Concepts
visual storytelling
subtext
economy of language
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you convey inner conflict through action?
- What visual detail best replaces dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on exposition can flatten characters.
