We’ve
all seen plenty of great movies that keep secrets from the audience
that are revealed later in the story. And there are plenty of classic
movies that surprise us with a jaw-dropping “plot reveal” in the end.
But is this something you should emulate in your own scripts? To quote
the late, great Amy Winehouse: “I say, ‘No, No, No!’”
In a screenplay, your goal is not to be “mysterious” or keep secrets,
but to get all the necessary facts about your story out there as quickly
and clearly and efficiently as possible. Yes, I know this may go
against much of what you think you know about screenwriting. But in
movies, “Clarity is king.” You don’t write a mystery by being
“mysterious.” You don’t generate suspense by leaving your audience
confused.
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