From the course: Creating a Short Film: 02 Writing

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Using subtext

Using subtext

From the course: Creating a Short Film: 02 Writing

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Using subtext

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- When people talk in real life, they hardly ever just come out and say what they mean. It's said that only 7% of human communication is our actual words. Especially when fragile emotions are involved, we really have a tough time as a species just saying what we mean. Instead, we act out in sometimes seemingly unrelated ways. We might pout or fold our arms or look away or slam a door. And we'll usually talk about anything else. This is referred to as subtext. Subtext is what we say or do beneath the surface and implies what we really mean. As writers, we have a tendency, especially during those first drafts, to have characters say exactly what they're thinking. They might talk about how not having a father figure made them more dependent. Or they might gush about how much they love someone else. This is called being on the nose. In other words, expressing your feelings literally. People just don't do this very often. As a matter of fact, people often say the exact opposite of what…

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