Planting and Payoff

Today, I’d like to talk about one of my favorite little screenwriting techniques.  You probably already know, but planting and payoff is just what it sounds like: the writer plants something early on in the script (it can be anything like a prop, a mundane skill the protagonist has, or even a line of dialogue) and then, later in the script, that plant pays off when the script recalls it (the protagonist uses that same mundane talent, prop, or line of dialogue to some amazing effect).

Wrong kind of planting.

I really enjoy planting and payoff because it’s like a little gift to the attentive reader/viewer.  Sure, you noticed the protagonist put that child’s toy in her purse or that they have excellent aim when throwing clothes in the laundry, but since it hasn’t been brought up for a while you’re totally delighted when the protagonist rediscovers the toy and uses it to distract that guard dog or when they realize their amazing aim translates to amazing zombie fighting skills.

Not only is planting and payoff clever, but it also makes a writer look like they know what they’re doing, that they’ve planned meticulously and are not just making it all up as they go along.  Also, I think using planting and payoff makes a writer more aware of when they’ve got extraneous stuff that doesn’t need to be there.  I mean, why show the protagonist’s weird talent or write: CLOSE ON: WHATEVER PROP if it isn’t going to matter later?

So yeah, planting and payoff...use it…wisely, I think having every little thing in your script pay off would generate more groans than pleasant “ah-has!”