Professional readers first notice the length of the screenplay, which is expected to be around 120 pages. They often flip through the screenplay to determine the balance between dialogue and action lines. Amateur writers usually have too much dialogue, hence a non-visual story. Another unsuccessful method of telling the back story is by flashbacks. Only a few films, such as Sophie s Choice , usefully employ back story.
Flashbacks usually indicate story problems.
If you must, integrate sparse exposition in the dialogue with motivated action so the reader s interest is maintained. Most professional readers will judge the writer at 10 pages. If the writer is somewhat confident, then exposition is often the final determinant. Many elementary writing books recommend exposition by having characters argue about history that occurred prior to the film s storyline. This provides an emotional motivation to move the story forward.