To put it simply, setups and payoffs are what Chekhov’s gun theory looks like in practice. The setup is showing the gun in act one, and the payoff is firing it in act three. This same model can be applied to virtually any component of storytelling from on-screen objects, to characters, to lines of dialogue. Whether you notice them or not, the best screenwriters all make frequent use of setups and payoffs.
The best setups don’t feel like setups in the moment but always do in retrospect. If a setup is too obvious, the audience may wind up one step ahead of the film, which is never a good thing. However, if the audience doesn’t notice a setup, but then remember it in retrospect, there is nothing more satisfying for a moviegoer!
Are you using setups and payoffs in your screenplays⁉️🤔
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