4 ms·
I also think that the rifle can “set the frame” for the character or scenario. E.g. that the character is the kind of person who owns guns. It does not go off
by justsomeuser 5y ago
I also think that the rifle can “set the frame” for the character or scenario.
E.g. that the character is the kind of person who owns guns.
It does not go off or get used, but the viewer will use that as input to make a judgement about the character.
- wutwutwutwut 5y agoMaybe the rifle/gun is just a bad example today? I watch movies all the time where there are guns or rifles which does not gow off. And I sure don't feel like some promise was broken.
- pavlov 5y agoChekhov used this example of a rifle on the wall in 1889, years before the invention of the movie camera. It shouldn't be taken as advice on movie production design.
- AlphaSite 5y agoI think it’s something which is more obvious in a literary context where not talking about the gun means there is no obvious reference to it, but in a movie it may still exist, they just do not draw attention to it.
- shepherdjerred 5y agoGun isn’t literal here. Gun is a metaphor for details; if the details don’t serve the plot (if the gun doesn’t go off) then the details should be removed (don’t show the gun)
- goto11 5y agoIn good writing, details serve multiple purposes. Just showing a gun because it will be used later will seem ham-fisted to an audience. A good writer will introduce the gun as a character moment and as setup.