How Can You Convey Backstory Without Dialogue?
In the visually rich world of film, directors and creative directors often face the challenge of revealing a character's past without uttering a single word. From establishing character perspective early to utilizing visual cues and symbolism, we've compiled nine innovative strategies from seasoned filmmakers. These insights delve into the art of visual storytelling to convey complex backstories effectively.
- Establish Character Perspective Early
- Use Imagery to Show Scale
- Visual Cues Suggest Past Experiences
- Balance Information with Emotion
- Demonstrate Traits Through Actions
- Use Visuals and Behaviors for Backstory
- Employ Visual Storytelling
- Visual Storytelling Conveys Rich Backstories
- Utilize Visual Cues and Symbolism
Establish Character Perspective Early
There are three parts to this for me:
First, it's important to ensure that the character has a clear perspective early on.
What is this particular character's point of view or perspective?
Second, there should be a reason that can explain why this character has that particular POV – especially at the end of the backstory.
What are the scenes or moments that visualize this rationalization?
Third, there should be an event that brings them to the present and shows your viewer how that established POV is interacting with their story world now.
What does an example of their evolved POV look like in the present situation? (the end of retelling their backstory)
For example, in "Up" at the beginning, we meet Carl and Ellie. (let's focus on Carl's backstory)
This is a clear pov. Based off his hair, his glasses, and surprise at his wedding, he's pretty high-strung but feels lucky in life for having met Ellie.
These are scenes that rationalize his pov turning sad. While painting the mailbox, he's shocked to find that he had paint on his hand and has ruined his mailbox... but it's not a problem for Ellie. Then he's sad when he finds that Ellie can't have kids and he can't support her... but he tries and tries. But each time he tries (by saving up), something terrible happens that's beyond his control.
Eventually, life goes on... and there's always something in the way of vacation. Ellie passes away and Carl is broken.
And this brings us to the present day,
Carl is an uptight man who met the love of his life, who brought him life and companionship (as evidenced by his many balloons at the beginning). Carl has had some setbacks after wanting to continue his blossoming partnership with Ellie... but it's okay as long as she's there.
Until she's not.
The backstory ends without Ellie, a single balloon, and a really crabby outlook on life.
(And really the beginning of "Up").
Use Imagery to Show Scale
Clichés become clichés because they have meaning. It's images that move people. When I made 'Alexander Calder,' the definitive portrait of the inventor of the mobile, my challenge was how to show the scale of the sculptures—hard to understand without a reference. Some mobiles are as big as a house. Others, you could hold in your hand. I answered the question by filming a mobile with no size reference. After a moment, beautiful red lips enter the frame and blow. The tiny sculpture began to move. You can see it in the film's trailer.
Visual Cues Suggest Past Experiences
One way to convey backstory without dialogue is through subtle visual cues and actions. For instance, you can show a character's old photographs or possessions that hint at their past. Their mannerisms and behavior can also reflect their history; perhaps they flinch at a certain sound, indicating a traumatic experience.
Additionally, the environment itself can speak volumes about the character's background, like a rundown house suggesting financial struggles or a meticulously organized workspace implying a perfectionist nature. Through these details, readers can piece together the character's backstory without the need for explicit dialogue.
Balance Information with Emotion
In telling a backstory, we seek the perfect balance between information and emotion. As there is always the need for some information in a backstory, we have never told one with zero dialogue. We typically introduce the backstory sequence with a line of VO and try to evoke the personal history with imagery and sound. An example from our recent film, 'Los Hermanos/The Brothers': Ilmar, who left his Havana home to study in Moscow at age 14 and never again lived in Cuba, recounts how his brother Aldo recorded cassettes of music he composed on the piano, from age 10. We then have a minute or so of Aldo's piano music (we were able to find the original cassettes in their family closet!) with home movies of child Aldo riding his bike. Ilmar returns to the screen, tears in his eyes, recalling what it was like to play these cassettes in his dorm room in Moscow. The scene centers on the melancholy of the brothers' separation and the music that came out of that, without concerning itself with other details.
Demonstrate Traits Through Actions
Well, it all comes back to "show me, don't tell me." The backstory of Johnny, who is 40 in the film, is that he is a very nasty person who is rude, cruel, and does not appreciate people or anything, for that matter. As Johnny is presented in the story, we see him in a diner where he is paying for breakfast, and we realize that he leaves a one-penny tip for the waitress. He then exits the diner, hops into his old truck, and goes out to the backwoods to a shed where he has a dog locked up in a cage. The dog is starving. He had kept his BLT from the diner and then proceeds to eat it in front of the dog.
No dialogue. Pretty clear who Johnny is now and what his backstory might be: an abused kid, probably from a broken family who was bullied nonstop at school... but it could be so much more to someone else watching the same scene.
"Show me, don't tell me" is pretty much the most effective tool a filmmaker has. When you analyze your favorite films, you realize that this approach to conveying anything is what sets films apart from other storytelling. It is akin to the omniscient narrator in a novel, except you have moving images to tell the story instead of words. Sometimes what is not said is what is most powerfully understood by all. This also enhances the "voyeurism" idea of film, which is at the heart of why films are so popular... and brings us back to André Bazin and his theory on film: you let the spectator make up their own minds on what they have seen. But you've got to show them something, and that is where the skill of the filmmaker comes in.
Use Visuals and Behaviors for Backstory
Conveying a character's backstory without relying heavily on dialogue is a common challenge for filmmakers. As a filmmaker, various techniques we use to convey a backstory include:
1. Using visuals, such as props, costumes, and set design, to subtly hint at a character's past experiences or personality traits.
2. A character's actions, body language, and behaviors can reveal aspects of their backstory without explicitly stating it.
3. Filmmakers can use flashbacks or dream sequences to provide glimpses into a character's past directly, without relying on dialogue in the present.
4. The environment or setting in which a character resides can offer clues about their backstory.
5. How a character interacts with others, and how others respond to them, can indirectly reveal aspects of their backstory. In "The Shawshank Redemption," the way other inmates treat Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) as an outsider suggests his past as a banker and the circumstances that led to his imprisonment.
Employ Visual Storytelling
To convey a character's backstory without dialogue, I focus on visual storytelling. For example, a scene where a character is surrounded by old military medals and faded photos suggests their past in the military, capturing a whole history of service and possibly loss, all without words. This approach allows the audience to connect the dots themselves, making the story more engaging and personal.
Visual Storytelling Conveys Rich Backstories
As a filmmaker, conveying a character's backstory without relying on dialogue can be a fascinating challenge. One effective approach is through visual storytelling, using symbols, gestures, and environments to subtly hint at a character's past. Take, for instance, the opening sequence of "Up" by Pixar. In just a few minutes, we witness the entire life of Carl and Ellie, from their childhood dreams to their old age, all without a single word spoken. Through a montage of poignant moments, like the empty chair representing Ellie's absence or the adventure scrapbook symbolizing their unfulfilled dreams, the audience gains a deep understanding of their characters and their journey together. It's a powerful example of how visual storytelling can evoke emotions and convey a rich backstory without uttering a single line.
Utilize Visual Cues and Symbolism
Conveying a character's backstory without relying on dialogue can be a creative challenge, but it's also an opportunity to use visual storytelling techniques to deepen audience engagement. One effective approach is to utilize visual cues, symbolism, and subtle gestures to convey key aspects of the character's past.
Pay attention to the actor's body language and facial expressions to convey emotions and internal struggles associated with the character's backstory. Subtle gestures or changes in demeanor can speak volumes without the need for words.
An example of this approach can be seen in the film "Drive," directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The protagonist, known only as "Driver," has a mysterious past that is hinted at through visual storytelling rather than explicit dialogue.
Through subtle cues such as his stoic demeanor, solitary lifestyle, and proficiency in driving, the audience gains insight into his enigmatic backstory without the need for lengthy exposition.
