“Great writers show how a character is angry by writing specific actions that suggest this action. The should never write, “She is angry.” Instead, they should write, “She throws a pot through a window.”
Karl Iglesias
Writing for Emotional Impact
To see a couple excellent examples of emotional cues, here is a full half page scene from Mark Boal’s screenplay, The Hurt Locker. This scene follows the explosion of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the streets of Baghdad that killed a soldier.
Notice Boal’s doesn’t come close to writing, “Sanborn is overcome with grief” or “Sanborn feels sad that his buddy is dead.” Just two short and simple sentences, “Sanborn grips the box. He does not let go.” The emotional cues are subtle.
Later in the script a soldier back from Iraq is adjusting to the mundane life in a U.S. supermarket.
Again, no hint of the words “confusion” or “disoriented.” No bloated—”He is overwhelmed by the many choices of American consumerism and feels lost and alone.” (Go to the 1:38 mark of the clip below to see the supermarket scene. Or watch the whole clip to get a better context of the scene that contrasts the adrenaline filled life of a soldier who detonates bombs for a living and the same soldier in civilian life.)
Boal wrote emotional cues— showing, not telling— and leaving lots of room for the actors and directors to do their jobs. The film won six Oscars including one for Boal’s (Best writing, original Screenplay), one for Kathryn Bigelow for her directing, and Best Motion Picture of the Year.
Update: Just watched Saving Private Ryan and it’s also full of emotional cues—and just happened to win five Oscars including one for Best Director by Steven Spielberg. It also received six additional nominations including one for screenwriter Robert Rodat. Just in case you’re wondering, I don’t think your screenplay has to be a war-centered movie to have emotional cues. But war is heightened reality showing people in extreme situations, so it’s no surprise that stories of war are full of emotional cues.
[…] “Great writers show how a character is angry by writing specific actions that suggest this action. The should never wrote, “She is angry.” Instead, the would write, “She throws a pot through a window.” Karl Iglesias Writing for Emotional Impact Here is a full half page scene from the Mark Boal screenplay, The Hurt Locker. This scene […] Original Source… […]