But what does it mean? And how can it be defined?
Today I’m going to go over the meaning of “show, don’t tell,” give some examples, and also talk about why this is perhaps the most important thing to remember as you continue your writing journey. Even if you think you’ve mastered it, there’s always more to learn.
Incredible “Show, Don’t Tell” Examples and Definitions in Film and Television
As I mentioned above, this phrase has been around since the dawn of screenwriting. You’ve probably been told it once and forgotten it, or you’ve seen so many TV shows and movies that you instinctively know what it means because it’s part of the language of film.
I have a Masters in Screenwriting from Boston University, which leaves me with about $200,000 in debt and severely limits my financial options. But now I can explain to you what “show, don’t tell” means for free, so I guess it’s worth it…
Definition of “Show, don’t tell”
This is a technique used by writers to allow the audience to experience the story through the action combined with their own thoughts and feelings, rather than through explanations, dialogue or voiceover.
This means not overwhelming your audience with obvious dialogue or descriptions.
Explanation of “Show, don’t tell”
There’s the textbook definition, but what this really means is that someone watching a movie or television show at home gets information about the characters or plot not from someone saying something out loud, but from their actions on the screen.
In layman’s terms, this means watching a character do something and understanding the story, rather than having a character tell you the same thing and you understanding it. Instead of a character saying, “I’m sad,” show that emotion through subtext or action. Instead of a character declaring, “I’m a firefighter,” show that character in firefighter gear or coming out of a burning building.
In film and television we are dealing with a visual medium. If characters stood around and told you a lot of information, it would be boring. Or it would feel like a play. We like to see people in motion, in action.
While snappy dialogue is great, ultimately we should learn most information through a person’s actions rather than their words.
The origin of “Show, don’t tell”
It is often claimed that the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov had the idea in a letter to his brother. He wrote:
“In describing nature, you have to pick up small details and group them together so that the reader gets a picture when he closes his eyes. For example, you get a moonlit night if you write that on the mill dam a shard of glass from a broken bottle glittered like a bright little star and that the black shadow of a dog or wolf rolled past like a ball.”
This does not quite correspond to the motto “show, don’t tell”, but the idea comes close.
Actually, it is probably more accurate to attribute the sentence to Percy Lubbock and The craft of fictiona series of essays on novel writing published in the 1920s. He wrote:
“The story stands obediently before the author, with all its developments and illustrations, the characters defined, the little incidents in order. His only thought is how he shall present the story, how he shall tell it in a way that will produce the desired effect, how he shall show the little accumulation of facts so that they shall proclaim the meaning he sees in them. I speak of his “telling” the story, but of course he has no idea of doing that, and nothing more; the art of fiction only begins when the novelist considers his story as a matter that shownto be exhibited in such a way that it tells its own story.”
This may sound a bit bold, but what Lubbock writes here comes very close to our modern motto “Show, don’t tell.”
In screenwriting, as I said, all you have are the visuals. You can present them to your audience and hope that they “make the impact” and have the meaning you want. Hopefully, you’re writing in such a way that the story “tells itself” without having to overwhelm the audience with explanations.
Examples of “show, don’t tell” in films
The best examples of “show, don’t tell” in my opinion come from thrillers and crime films. The reason for this is that we usually see police officers or detectives collecting clues as they go about their work. In something like Knives outwe see the lead detective collecting clues throughout the film. Of course, he tells us what they all mean at the end, but until then we only see him bending down to find dirt, examine footprints, and observe the family’s behavior.
Of course, much of the DNA of this film comes from the great detective films of the past, such as Chinatown. No better film takes the screening to heart. We see Jake Gittes following and taking photos of a woman he thinks is someone else. He is then hired by the other woman to solve the murder of her husband, and we see Jake slowly putting his case together. He places clocks under the wheels of cars to time their departures, steals a business card to pass off as his own, and commits acts like ripping pages out of books to build his case.
We’re showing the audience information here and allowing them to learn the plot and a little about Jake. He’s smart, hardworking and not afraid to get into trouble or put his body on the line. In the name of detective work, he gets his nose slit and crashes a car in an orange orchard. We’re shown things about him – no one tells us those details. And it makes us more involved because we appreciate his hard work and put the clues together ourselves.
Another way to use it would be as they did in The last duel, where we are shown three different perspectives of the same story. Here we are given many nuances and explanations depending on the point of view of each story. It is up to us to put the pieces together and understand the plot.
Examples of “show, don’t tell” on television
There are many examples of this on television. Let us first look at the game of Thrones Pilot where we got to know so many characters and their status in the world. When the Lannisters arrive, we see people lining up to greet them. Through this act of respect, we know that these are the important characters. We also know from a look and a grunt that Cersei Lannister doesn’t like leaving King’s Landing.
Or how about LOST‘s pilot. We know Jack is a doctor, not because we’re told. That comes later. We know because we see him running all over the beach helping victims of a plane crash. We see all the survivors in their element. Whether it’s Kate trying to get rid of a handcuff or Hurley just being a good guy, we learn so much by putting characters in adverse situations and showing us how they react.
Finally, think of a sitcom with conversations like I love Lucy. We know who Lucy is as a character. We know she can be overwhelmed. But instead of telling us she’s overwhelmed and that she’s getting drunk on “vitameatavegamin,” we’re shown her getting drunker and drunker. And that’s funnier!
Summary of “Show, don’t tell”
Now that you know all about “show, don’t tell,” you can apply it to your writing. Think about each scene. Can you convey what’s happening without dialogue? If so, you may be able to cut some lines. Audiences are smart, and we need to keep that in mind. They want to be involved in the story and interact with the narrative.
The more you show and the less you tell, the deeper they can immerse themselves in the story and enjoy it.
Share your tips for writing these below and I can’t wait to start the discussion in the comments.
