The "Raiders" (Indy) Story Conference

[TheJBurger]

If you enjoy movies, Indiana Jones, or have any interest in screenwriting, you might be interested in this synposis of a talk between Lucas, Spielberg and Kasdan:
http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/raiders-story-conference.html

One of my favorites from the article:

6) Consider their approach to exposition.

So Indy’s in Cairo with his friend. We're at a scene that we know will be full of exposition, that is, the Staff of Ra was too long for the Germans and they’re digging in the wrong place. So the question was, "what are we going to do to make the scene interesting so the audience doesn’t fall asleep?" And the idea was presented that this exposition could be done over dinner that’s been poisoned. As they pick up tainted food and gesture with it, we fear for their lives. They loved it. (And I've been saying this for years - great exposition is always given in the context of something else.) Okay, now that we have the setup, how do they figure out the food is poisoned and survive? A pet nibbles on it and dies. Okay, what kind of pet?