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What is Chekhov’s Gun? A lesson from Knives Out on “setup and payoff.”

Chekhov’s Gun — How To Setup and Payoff in Screenwriting ►►

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - What is Chekhov's Gun?
03:21 - Knives Out Introduction
04:26 - Example 1 — The Blood Stain
06:19 - Example 2 — The Baseball
07:52 - Example 3 — The Knife Sculpture
09:42 - Takeaways

Chekhov’s Gun isn’t about guns, it’s about setup and payoff. Less a screenwriting technique and more a principle of storytelling, there’s a lot we can learn from Anton Chekhov’s gun. In this video essay, we’re going to investigate Knives Out, written and directed by Rian Johnson, as a case study in how Chekhov’s Gun works. In this tightly constructed murder mystery, where everyone is a suspect and everything is a clue, Johnson shows us the power of “setup and payoff” and the fun we get watching a master at work.

When considering how to implement Chekhov’s Gun into your own screenplay, there are three considerations you should make. First, there’s what we’re calling “visibility,” or how obvious you present the “gun” to the audience. Do you give us an extreme close-up with dramatic music to make sure we notice it? Or do you let it pass by without much mention?

The second consideration is “relevancy,” or how important the “gun” is to the story. Is the audience aware of its significance? Or does the role this “gun” has to play a mystery of its own? The last consideration is “velocity,” or how quickly the “gun” is fired once the audience is aware of its existence. Is it fired immediately for ultimate shock value? Or would it work best waiting in the background to let the suspense boil up?

In this Knives Out video essay, we look at each of Rian Johnson's many Chekhov’s Guns, each with their own role to play in solving the mystery and each with their own combination of these considerations. For example, the bloodstain on Marta’s shoe is highly visible, we know exactly what will happen if this is discovered, and this “gun” isn’t fired until the very last scene.

Remember, Chekhov’s Gun can and should be applied in every layer of your storytelling. From the dialogue, props, plot, and even theme. The lesson is simple: keep only what matters and discard the rest. The audience will appreciate a clean and intentional story written by a professional.


#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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VIDEO EDITOR: BRANDON SCULLION
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Spotify Playlist ►►

Songs Used:
Radiohead - Knives Out
Old School - Virgil Arles
Its a Bear - Robot Repair
Refractor - Hey Lunar
And That Right Soon - Thomas Newman (Shawshank Redemption Soundtrack)
Knives Out (String Quartet in G Minor) - Knives Out Soundtrack
Choke - Makeup and Vanity Set
Elevator Music - Vanoss Gaming Background Music
Crush - Makeup and Vanity Set
The Broken Trellis - Knives Out Soundtrack
The Game’s Afoot - Knives Out Soundtrack
Double-Dipping - Knives Out Soundtrack
The Thrombey Family Theme - Knives Out Soundtrack
Harlan’s Plan - Knives Out Soundtrack
Blanc’s Tale, Pt. II - Knives Out Soundtrack
Endless Ocean - Makeup and Vanity Set
Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now
A Glowing Light, A Promise - Makeup and Vanity Set

Music by Artlist ►
Music by Artgrid ►
Music by Soundstripe ►
Music by Music Vine ►
Music by MusicBed ►

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