Though I endeavor to avoid expository dialogue, I never really deliberate that much about it. What I do, is endeavor to let my characters have realistic, natural conversations. But his short article puts forth some concise examples of using actions to convey your character's emotions. But let me also offer this example. In my screenplay "Four Negro Girls in a Church", after one of my characters view his daughter's body at the morgue, he pull up in front of his house, walk up to his front door and upon entering, slams the screen door so hard, it comes off one of the hinges and hangs crookedly. It's a pretty obvious way to convey his anger. Of course, when Vito Corleone views his son's bullet riddled body at Bonasera's funeral home, raises his eyebrows and says "Look how they massacred my boy", that works pretty well too.
Screenwriting : Phillip's thought for the day about something I never really think about... subtext and on the nose dialogue by Phillip E. Hardy, Prolifique
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
I like that!! Any way you can convey an emotion without dialogue is the sign of a master writer at work. You go to a movie to feel not to always think. And it also it crosses all languages. It can be understood universally. Doesn't matter what you speak.