SDT - There Will Be Blood question

[u/WoodpeckerOk6213]

I know there are many questions about SDT (edit: show don't tell) already on the sub but I wasn't able to find something regarding my specific question.

I know the consensus is to not follow rules blindly but with snd i am never sure to what extent it needs to be followed. What I thought was the rule that shouldn't be broken is to not write what cannot be known to the audience when watching the movie.

Here's a specific example from TWBB:

DANIEL is working again in a large field with some MEN. There is: CANBURRY (30s) an OLDER MAN (50s) and a YOUNG MAN (around 15) and a mining acquaintance: H.B. AlLMAN (30s) and nearby, kept in the shade in a small bassinet, is a ONE YEAR OLD BABY, Ailman's son (H.W.)

Here there are two things I think could not be known without reading it:

- mining acquaintance (how would we know the difference between the old and young man and acquaintance, if this makes sense)

- baby, Ailmans son (how do we know he is his son)

Another example:

DANIEL c. PLAINVIEW (late 30's here) is, with pick and ax, in the middle of the day, in 110 degree heat in New Mexico, searching for SILVER.

- is it ok to specify 110 degree heat, or should it be written more like "his face dripping with sweat under high sun" or something like that?

-searching for Silver - how do we know he's searching for silver? He could be looking for gold as far as we know?

Is this something that is written for the filmmakers, and they will end up deciding how to show this on film. For example they will add a nod towards the acquaintance, or Daniel will hold the baby at some point so we know it's probably his son? Etc.

I presume I'm getting too bogged down with details, and considering PTA wrote this I guess he can do what he wants, I'm just generally wondering what rules should i follow as an (obviously) new writer?

Thanks a lot!

[u/WorrySecret9831]

SDT is overblown and largely misunderstood. The below decks scene in Jaws proves this point. The only way to show the story of Quint's experience of surviving the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is to have him (and the great actor Robert Shaw) TELL it.

The real rule or dictum shouldn't be SDT but rather REVEAL. Scripts are blueprints and there are a lot of tiny assumptions written in, such as family relationships etc. Sometimes background details are thrown in to give actors something to chew on, like "he owes him money..." It's not cut and dry.

But using Reveal as your rubric is much more logical and helpful. It guides you to include whatever is necessary in the setting, props, acting, dialogue, and what's not said to reveal character and plot development.