foreshadowing, advertising, preparation, pointing
hints at story developments to come, in order to prepare the viewer for later events, revelations or plot resolutions. (Griffiths, 2015) An operation designed to render a subsequent development or piece of information plausible, [in hindsight] predictable or meaningful. (Lavandier, 2005) Any preparatory device used to create foreshadowing is called a plant. (FILMTERM) [Can also use] symbolism, images, music, motifs, repetition, dialogue and mood to convey hints and build suspense, (Griffiths, 2015) necessariliy implies a 'scene that must be written' (Lavandier, 2005). Misleading foreshadowing is called red herring or false foreshadowing. Badly done (i.e. too obvious) foreshadowing is called telegraphing. Also see planting