![]() ![]() Professor Jones and Museum Curator Brody are the teachers while the two Army officers, along with us, are the students.Įarly in the scene, we’re reminded of Indy’s expertise: Professor of Archeology, expert in the occult, and obtainer of rare antiquities. The Summary: Even though the scene is five minutes long, it never feels forced or labored because we get all the critical information that sets up the entire story by using characters that are authorities in the field. ![]() The Exposition: Indy and Brody explain that the Nazi’s have discovered Tanis, an ancient city and possible burial site of the Ark of the Covenant, which holds epic mystical power. The Scene: Indy (Harrison Ford) and colleague Marcus Brody decipher a Nazi communique message for two U.S. Mulwray.ĭownload the screenplay for CHINATOWN here for free The key moment occurs when Mulwray refuses to build the damn because “It won’t hold.” We learn that “He won’t make that kind of mistake twice.” We respect Mulwray for his ethical yet unpopular stance, but Bagby has already illustrated that “Los Angeles is a desert community” and the Alto Vallejo Dam can “keep the desert from our streets.” Mulwray’s refusal to build it is now a major obstacle, which creates a motive to murder Mr. It’s a situation where exposition is expected, and both Bagby and Mulwray are respected authorities.īut what makes the scene stand out against other lecture based exposition scenes in which the norm is that the protagonist is doing the lecturing or at least involved in the exchange – is that the protagonist Gittes is a silent observer who knows no more than the audience does, and as he sits quietly listening to the proceedings and learning of the dramatic set up along with the audience. Mulwray are addressing the council committee and council chamber audience. is dying of thirst.” Screenwriter Robert Towne doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel here as the exposition comes out quite literally as a lecture, but we accept it because former mayor Bagby and Mr. The Summary: In only two minutes and twenty seconds, this scene alone sets up the entire dramatic situation and the circumstances surrounding the action: “L.A. ![]() The Exposition: We learn the about the importance of water in Los Angeles and the dramatic set up that propels the story forward to the final resolution. The Scene: Gittes (Jack Nicholson) sits through a council meeting at City Hall regarding the “Proposed Alto Vallejo Dam and Reservoir”. While trying to get John excited about this seasons last crash, Jeremy tells John that this will be “the greatest crash of all time.” We learn that this “Kentucky Derby of weddings” is for Treasury Secretary Cleary’s daughter and “there is no room for error.” The prospect of secret service excites Jeremy, who also refers to the sacred crashing rules that have been passed down to them 12 years ago by their mentor, Chaz Reinhold, a man John sees as a loser, yet Jeremy reveres.ĭownload the screenplay for THE WEDDING CRASHERS here for free The Summary: Not only do we see how the friendship between John and Jeremy operates – Jeremy clearly the instigator in the driver seat, but we also set up the entire story during this two-minute scene. The Exposition: We learn about their wedding crashing experience and expertise, the fact that there are sacred rules to wedding crashing that have been passed down to them, as well as key details as to the importance of who is getting married. ![]() The Scene: Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) convinces John (Owen Wilson) to crash one more wedding: the biggest nuptial of the year. Since there are so many different purposes for exposition and it can be presented in so many different ways, we felt it was necessary to narrow the road and base our list on two very distinct rules: Rule #1 – Exposition that occurs in one singular scene & Rule: #2 – Exposition that delivers information ONLY on plot and/or the world of the story. The skilled screenwriter delivers it through conflict (an argument that starts about one thing escalates when past issues are brought up), through humor (a character teasing another will often illustrate by referring to events of the past), through a character whose occupation demands a delivery of information (professor, lawyer, judge, scientist, etc), or during intense action (a car chase, a shootout, or even just a jog through the park). When the presentation of the information comes out as a forced monologue, it is often referred to as an “info dump” or “idiot lecture.” Good exposition, however, never simply “dumps” information in our lap. Every film has it, but not every film does it well. Exposition is a necessary tool for the screenwriter and often one that is essential to understanding plot, character, setting, and/or theme because it provides an explanation of necessary background information to the audience. ![]()
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