Make characters act out their desires, feelings, and emotions (inner world) in the most inappropriate places (external world).

This helps to show us just how far their singular "tunnel vision" fixations have gone.

The Coen Brothers have used this method many times before and specifically in these films:

"THE BIG LEBOWSKI" - The Dude's bowling partner Walter Sobchak pulling a gun out on a bowling opponent during a game.
Externally: Bowling might be the only thing he has in life to hold on to.
Internally: This guy has serious anger issues.

"A SERIOUS MAN" - The main character's son Danny high on marijuana during his Bar Mitzvah.
Externally: Even Danny's religion can't prevent him from getting high.
Internally: He is having trouble coping with his responsibilities.

"NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN" - Anton Chigurh killing a sheriff's deputy in a police station of all places.
Externally: He doesn't give a damn about laws or human life for that matter - just getting what he wants.
Internally: The difference between right and wrong may not register with this guy.

These may be extreme cases, but In all of these scenes the characters are visually showing us what their priorities are at the moment - even to the extent of risking arrest and public shame.

Their inner worlds are informing their external decisions by showing us, not talking about it.

Like the old cliche goes: "I have to see it to believe it."

Jason: Good examples. It's doubly beneficial from a storytelling standpoint because the inappropriate setting not only spotlights how extreme the character is feeling, it also makes for more compelling cinema.

The NY Times has an interesting clip of Neil Burger discussing how he attempted just this in "Limitless":

Anatomy of a Scene: 'Limitless'

(The entire Anatomy of a Scene series is interesting.)

Thank you for those helpful hints, and your exelent blog. I’ve been a steady follower since a year back, when I actually sold a script for a feature film out of my own treatment (in Sweden, most films are made with, partly, fundings from the state – and 2 – 3 of them also get development money to write the screenplay, wich I got) I’m now working on draft seven, in wich I’ve throwed in some of these more ”expressionistic” ellements. It has been a crash course In screenwriting (my first script ever) and I’ve found your site incredibly helpfull. Now, the film is hopefully goin into production next fall.

Thanks again!

See you soon at an oscars-awards ceremony close to you ?…. (you got to set goals, right?)

Anton