Bristol-based Storyboard artist Jay Clarke explores the relationship between visual storytelling and exposition, revealing how filmmakers utilise both to tell their stories effectively — and avoid lazy exposition.
“Show, don’t tell” has become a familiar rule of storytelling — but is telling always such a bad thing?
With over two decades of experience across animation and live action, storyboard artist Jay Clarke discusses the relationship between visual storytelling and exposition, revealing how filmmakers can utilise both images AND dialogue effectively.
Drawing on examples from silent cinema and memorable monologues to Aardman’s visual comedy and Wes Anderson’s dense, fast-paced dialogue, Jay breaks down how filmmakers communicate story and information with impact — and avoid lazy exposition.
Through the lens of storyboarding, this masterclass examines how composition, staging and performance can work alongside dialogue to make exposition compelling — and asks when to show, when to tell, and when to do both.
