Another way Quote by Ernest Lehman
“One of the tricks is to have the exposition conveyed in a scene of conflict, so that a character is forced to say things you want the audience to know - as, for example, if he is defending himself against somebody's attack, his words of defense seem Justified even though his words are actually expository words. Something appears to be happening, so the audience believes it is witnessing a scene (which it is), not listening to expository speeches. Humor is another way of getting exposition across.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Scriptwriting guide, 1970s
Embedding exposition within conflict lets characters reveal information naturally, making it feel like part of the action rather than a lecture.
In simple terms: Show facts through conflict.
Key Takeaway
Use conflict to convey info.
Themes
storytelling
screenwriting
exposition
Mood
creative
practical
Type
instructional
strategic
When to use this quote
- movie scenes
- play dialogues
- novel chapters
- video game cutscenes
- comic panels
Key Concepts
dramatic tension
character motivation
audience engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can conflict be authentic while delivering needed info?
- What alternatives exist when conflict isn’t appropriate?
A Different Perspective
If conflict feels forced, exposition may still seem clunky.
