Phil & Monique: Zero-Text Thinking

FADE IN:

INT. MUSEUM CONFERENCE - GRAB-AND-GO CAFE - DAY

Sitting at a corner table are MONIQUE, exhibition developer wise beyond her years, and PHIL, anxious independent museum consultant.

PHIL: Look at this script. Is this too much text?

MONIQUE: Yes. [Sips matcha.]

PHIL: But you didn’t even look!

MONIQUE: Don’t have to.

PHIL: Why not?

MONIQUE: It’s always too much.

PHIL: True.

MONIQUE: Why do we always start by assuming every exhibition needs wall text, or labels, or text in media?

PHIL: Well, we have to explain things.

MONIQUE: Sometimes. [Sips matcha.] But what if we started with zero-text thinking?

PHIL: Zero-text thinking?

MONIQUE: Aim for no text. Do everything to avoid it. Only have it where necessary.

PHIL: But exhibitions always have text. A lot of the time the text gets written first!

MONIQUE: Exactly. But does any visitor come … [narrows eyes] … to read?

PHIL: Hm. I’m starting to see your point.

MONIQUE: We could use sound, video, live people! Or just have the experiences we create be an explanation unto themselves.

PHIL: When you start using words like “unto” I get nervous.

MONIQUE: Unto, unto, unto!

PHIL: [Narrows eyes.] What exactly is in matcha?

FADE OUT.