Character Quote by Sam Esmail
“I use voiceover just like I use dialogue. There's a way to give out information or give out insight to the character or give out their worldview, and maybe you have to slip in exposition, but it's all about how you write it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing for TV, Sam Esmail, 2018
Voiceover should serve narrative purpose, delivering insight or worldview without feeling expository, relying on skillful integration.
In simple terms: Use voiceover purposefully, not as a crutch.
Key Takeaway
Write voiceover that reveals character subtly.
Themes
storytelling
writing technique
character development
media
exposition
Mood
practical
creative
Type
instructional
craftsmanship
When to use this quote
- screenwriting workshops
- film production
- TV series development
Key Concepts
narrative economy
show vs tell
creative constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- When is voiceover essential?
- How can you show rather than tell?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on voiceover can make dialogue lazy.
![“[A]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off more than a big slab of prose at the start." (Interview, The Paris Review , Issue 64, Winter 1975)” quote by P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/989/p-g-wodehouse-723_communication_a-lways-get-to-the-dialogue-as-soon-as-p_13316.jpg)
