What is Chekhov's Gun? | Cult Popture

Описание: If the gun doesn't fire, it shouldn't be hanging there.

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Music by Kevin MacLeod (What Is Love?)

Whether you know what it's called or not, you probably already understand the concept behind Chekhov’s gun. But since I couldn't find any other videos succinctly explaining it, I thought I'd try gain that desperate Explain-Like-I'm-5 revenue.

So basically, Chekhov’s gun is a narrative device which says “don't put something in your story if you aren't gonna pay it off later”. Don't make a big deal out of a gun being on the wall, if that gun isn't fired by the end of the movie. Story. Whatever. It was coined by a playwright so a play is probably more accurate.

Here's his full quote here, uhhhh, rifle on the wall… not going to go off… shouldn't be hanging there…. anyway.

Here's an example of one of my favourite Checkhov’s guns: (I, Robot)

In this scene towards the beginning of the film , the gun is loaded.

And in this scene towards the ending of the film, the gun is fired.

Set-up and pay-off, though Chekhov’s gun isn't necessarily supposed to be intentional signposting, it just means don't fill your script with stuff you aren't gonna come back to later. Every second in a story should be used. Don't waste your time. Don't waste your audience’s time.

It's much easier to explain when a film does it wrong, as it just doesn't feel right.

Here's an example of a Chekhov’s gun not being fired (Jurassic World)

Here we see this character has a girlfriend.

Here we see he still flirts with other girls.

And then nothing happens for the rest of the story.

I'm okay with this character being a shitty person who is unfaithful or whatever, but he neither faces the consequences for his actions nor does he learn a lesson. If the scenes establishing him as potentially unfaithful to his girlfriend were taken out, I'd have no problem with his character. But this gun was loaded, baby, and it wasn't fired.

In the same movie, we learn that their parents are getting a divorce and it's causing grief.

Then nothing happens. We never hear about this storyline again. Not that I really want to. But still. These scenes ultimately contributed nothing to the movie.

Don't put pointless crap in your story, because unlike the real world, everything in your script should have a purpose.