Quote: Marc P @ April 8 2009, 2:47 PM BSTCharacter or plot and McKee would say they are both sides of the same coin and I think he might be right.
Or in sitcom of course just a funny line or action. Of itself in sitcom that's ok. As long as it is coming organicaly from either or. 
Quote: jdubya @ April 8 2009, 2:48 PM BSTChip,
will you be changing your avatar soon?
Maybe tomorrow. But the pressure to come up with new ones is becoming quite intense.
Quote: Marc P @ April 8 2009, 2:49 PM BSTOr in sitcom of course just a funny line or action. Of itself in sitcom that's ok. As long as it is coming organicaly from either or.
Why is it can imagine John Prescott saying all that?
Quote: chipolata @ April 8 2009, 2:48 PM BSTFor example, it's like having a scene where something happens. Then following it with a scene where people talk about what just happened.
What if they are talking about something they haven't seen already?
Quote: Marc P @ April 8 2009, 2:47 PM BSTCharacter or plot and McKee would say they are both sides of the same coin and I think he might be right.
But he writes bloody boring books.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 8 2009, 2:51 PM BSTBut he writes bloody boring books.
Seen him. Have the book. Haven't read it!
Quote: random @ April 8 2009, 2:51 PM BSTWhat if they are talking about something they haven't seen already?
What are they talking about in the scene your worried about? How does it affect the plot? And how long is it?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 8 2009, 2:49 PM BSTClumsy exposition doesn't feel like natural dialogue and just feels akward and forced.
e.g
DAUGHTER
"Mum, I know you haven't got long to live but I wanted to tell you I'm pregnant. Darren and I will be parents next spring."MOTHER
"That's great. You are 29 now darling. I'm so happy you settled down with a solicitor like Darren."Why would a mother tell her child how old she was and what her husband does - it's clearly to explain things to the audience. All these facts could be explained in a better way. (We see the daughter taking a pregnancy test)
Sometimes a visual approach to explain something can work better.Also don't under-estimate the intelligence of an audience to work things out themselves.
Yeah, thx, fully understand where you're coming from with that.
Quote: random @ April 8 2009, 2:51 PM BSTWhat if they are talking about something they haven't seen already?
It's better to show it.
Eg.
Dave runs into the pub.
DAVE
Craig's just crashed his car outside. And his wife's waiting for him to take her out to dinner for her birthday.
Might be better as.
Dave's wife stands by the door, surrounded by birthday cards and balloons wearing her best dress, coat on, ready to go. She checks her watch and sighs.
A loud crash. Dave's car smashes into the bus stops.
Dave's wife still stands waiting.
Quote: Marc P @ April 8 2009, 2:52 PM BSTSeen him. Have the book. Haven't read it!
It's pretty good for insomnia.
Quote: chipolata @ April 8 2009, 2:52 PM BSTWhat are they talking about in the scene your worried about? How does it affect the plot? And how long is it?
It's more of a general thing, ok, it's been mentioned on mine but I've read it on others.
Quote: Ben @ April 8 2009, 2:46 PM BSTNice Auton.
Maybe you and I should be best friends.
Righto, chum. 
I hear you Dolly.
The way I see it, the admonition against exposition is just advice given because a lot of lazy or inexperienced writers do it. And it is good advice as the 29 year old, pregnant solicitor-marrying daughter above shows.
I guess another example might be from Father Ted:
Father Ted: Ah, Sister Assumpta!
Sister Assumpta: Hello Father!
Father Ted: Dougal, Dougal, do you remember Sister Assumpta?
Father Dougal: Er, no.
Father Ted: She was here last year! And then we stayed with her in the convent, back in Kildare. Do you remember it? Ah, you do! And then you were hit by the car when you went down to the shops for the paper. You must remember all that? And then you won a hundred pounds with your lottery card? Ah, you must remember it, Dougal!
[Dougal shakes his head]
Sister Assumpta: And weren't you accidentally arrested for shoplifting? I remember we had to go down to the police station to get you!... And the police station went on fire? And you had to be rescued by helicopter?
Father Ted: Do you remember? You can't remember any of that? The helicopter! When you fell out of the helicopter! Over the zoo! Do you remember the tigers?
[Dougal shakes his head some more]
Father Ted: You don't remember? You were wearing your blue jumper.
Father Dougal: Ah, Sister Assumpta!
If a lot of the script had revolved around explaining funny things that had already happened, it would be boring and exposition. In this case, with that fantastic jumper punchline, it gets away with it. If those things had been important to the plot, you would have seen them happening, not just heard someone telling someone else about them.
SCENE 07# INT. PUB. DAY. A.M.
DEANO, CEREAL BOY, SUE AND NEVILLE ARE STOOD AT THE BAR DRINKING AND CHATTING. KATIE CAN BE SEEN STOOD AT THE OTHER END OF THE BAR LAUGHING AND CHATTING WITH A YOUNG SUITED MAN.
DEANO: (LAUGHING)
Yeah, he was just stood there, kegs round ankles... spanking the monkey.
THEY ALL LAUGH. DEANO AND CEREAL CAN BE SEEN CARRYING ON CHATTING TOGETHER, AS DO SUE AND NEVILLE.
SUE: (TO NEVILLE)
What time you got to be home for Gladys?
NEVILLE:
Already been once, I had about three more bundles left to do and me phone went, didn't it. She was all a panic, telling me to come home, come home and that she needs me urgently. (ROLLS EYES) Anyhow, so I stopped delivering and rushed off home straight away like... well I say straight away, I did nip in the cafe, you know, just for something quick. (EXPLAINING) I've got to keep me strength up Sue, you know, doing all this care work aswell takes it out of you.
CEREAL: (BUTS IN)
Yeah, it was a blinding spot of breakfast that, want it Nev? (TO DEANO) You should have joined us mate, Beryl's Big Bumper Belly Busting Bonanza Breakfast. It had the lot, two egg's, three sausy's, four bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, fried slice... black pudding, all washed down with a nice big mug of tea. (RUBS BELLY) Beautiful it was.
NEVILLE:
Aye son it were. (SMACKS LIPS. THEN TO SUE) As soon as I downed me second mug of tea, it was straight out the cafe, a mad rush down to the bookies for quick flutter on the old gee gee's, then without any delay, home to Gladys.
--------------------------
Exposition?
Quote: Marc P @ April 8 2009, 3:05 PM BSTSteady on old chap!
