How can exposition twist your story in new directions?

In the second part of Draft Zero's two-part episode on "Exposition", Stu & Chas take an even deeper look at this notoriously challenging part of screenwriting. For many stories there are pre-existing facts (or given circumstances) that need to be communicated to an audience, and often we rely on dialogue to do it. But exposition can do more than just communicate, it can serve as dramatic revelation that twists a story into a new direction or provides an emotional payoff - or both!. So how do great writers make exposition work for the story, rather than just tell audience stuff they need to know? And how can writers go wrong?

To that end, we look at GONE GIRL, SHUTTER ISLAND, GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL, THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX RELOADED, and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER. Audio quotations are included for educational purposes.

It should go without saying but in case you missed it SPOILERS AHEAD.

EPISODE LINKS

Draft Zero: DZ-37: Excelling at Exposition (Part 1)
Compiled PDF of all screenplay excerpts for Part 2
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
- Find it on JustWatch
SHUTTER ISLAND screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis
- Find it on JustWatch
GHOSTBUSTERS (2016) by Katie Dippold & Paul Feig
- Find it on JustWatch
THE MATRIX by Larry & Andy Wachowski
- Find it on JustWatch
THE MATRIX RELOADED by Larry & Andy Wachowski
- Find it on JustWatch
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
- Find it on JustWatch

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DZ-38: Excelling at Exposition (Part 2)

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast