Posted by PussyGalore at cpe000795eac030-cm.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com on April 05, 2003 at 03:52:14:
In Reply to: Expositional is not in my dictionary. . . posted by Beatrice_Rapaccinni on April 05, 2003 at 03:44:43:
:
: : : -------When writing dialogue try not to make it expositional. Make sure you're using subtext and all that jazz. And for the most part, don't put the shots in the script itself.
: What did you mean by expositional? and why can't there be shots in the script itself if it's a screenplay. Nearly all of the scripts I've read Cohen brothers, William Goldman, Neil Simon all had directions for shots in their scripts.
: I think they've done pretty well and I'm feeling pretty comfortable following their example. . .
Basically, it means don't write the dialogue as though it's exactly what the person is thinking. Because in real life we don't talk that way. Subtext makes it so much better. It'd be like a man looking at a pretty woman and saying "she's pretty. I like the way her shirt...etc". But instead all he has to say is "damn" and you know what he means.
You CAN put shots in the script, but generally it's not done. If the writer is also going to be the director, it's different. But usually the screenwriter doesn't tell the cinematographer how to do his/her job.