Screenwriting : The other chair. by Craig D Griffiths

Craig D Griffiths

The other chair.

I have been doing some study to get over some residual brain fog.

James Patterson (author) has the other chair metaphor.  Imagine you are telling your story to someone sitting opposite you.

You cannot talk for a few minutes setting things up. You have to keep the story moving while setting things up.

So if you are thinking of writing an exposition scene whose only job it to set up something. Give that scene something else to do, a second function.  In this way, people will be immediately entertained by the something else and absorb the exposition as a byproduct.

Maurice Vaughan

I've done this, Craig D Griffiths. It really helps with exposition. Another thing that helps with exposition is making the conversation funny. People will be so focused on the humor, they won't notice the exposition.

Craig D Griffiths

Good tip.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Craig D Griffiths. Another video idea (ways to make exposition more entertaining)? :D

Vicki Rosenthal

Excellent advice, thank you.

Craig D Griffiths

I am doing a video today. Still feeling a little slow.

Craig D Griffiths

Thank you Vicki.

Emily J

Love this advice @Craig! Also reminds me of the club scene in The Social Network - Sorkin said he wrote it so that it felt like the audience was jumping into a scene already in motion so they would have to catch up, and Fincher filmed it with very loud music so that the audience would feel like they have to physically lean into hear it, all so that viewers were actively participating in the scene

Maurice Vaughan

I hope you feel better soon, Craig D Griffiths.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for the article, Ty Strange!

Craig D Griffiths

Just uploading. Took your suggestion and added it to the video. Sorry I didn’t give you a shout out Maurice.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for adding my suggestion, Craig D Griffiths. Don't worry about the shout out.

Craig D Griffiths

https://youtu.be/6WxpPa3yE7U

You have always been a big help Maurice Vaughan .

In case anyone wants to see it. I've added the link

Evita Prishila Anggawijaya

This is a great advice! Will definitely try this one out. Thanks for the valuable insight, Craig!

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for the link, Craig D Griffiths. I'll check it out.

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