130+ terms defined. Master the language of screenwriting.
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A
Above the Line
Refers to the creative talent and costs in a production budget — typically the writer, director, producer, and lead acto...
Act
A major division of a screenplay. Most feature films follow a three-act structure: Setup, Confrontation, Resolution....
Action
The descriptive text in a screenplay that tells what happens on screen — movement, gestures, sounds, and visuals. Writte...
Ad-Lib
Dialogue improvised by an actor that is not in the script. Sometimes written into the script as a direction: "(ad-libs g...
Aerial Shot
A camera shot taken from a high vantage point, often from a helicopter, drone, or crane. Used to establish geography or ...
Angle On
A camera direction in a shooting script that indicates a specific framing of a subject within the same scene. Used spari...
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist. The antagonist creates the central conflict that drives the story. ...
B
B-Story
The secondary storyline that runs alongside the main plot (A-Story). Often a love story or character subplot....
Backstory
The history of a character or situation that occurred before the story begins. Backstory informs motivation and behavior...
Beat
A small unit of action or dialogue. Also used as a pause in dialogue, written as (beat). In story structure, beats are t...
Beat Sheet
An outline of the major story beats in a screenplay, typically 15-40 points that map the entire narrative arc....
Below the Line
The technical and production costs in a budget — crew, equipment, locations, post-production, catering. Everyone who is ...
Blocking
The physical movement and positioning of actors within a scene. In a screenplay, blocking is suggested through action li...
Bottle Episode
A TV episode confined to a single location, usually to save money. Often results in character-driven, dialogue-heavy sto...
C
Call Sheet
A daily production document listing the shoot date, call times, scenes being filmed, cast needed, crew assignments, and ...
Camera Angle
The position and orientation of the camera relative to the subject. Common angles include high angle (looking down), low...
Celtx
Celtx is a web-based screenwriting and pre-production platform launched in 2008. Originally a free desktop app, it pivot...
Character Arc
The transformation a character undergoes from the beginning to the end of the story....
Cheat
In production, slightly repositioning an actor or prop to improve framing or continuity without the audience noticing. I...
Chyron
Text superimposed on screen, typically to indicate time, location, or identify a person. Named after the Chyron Corporat...
Cliffhanger
An ending (of a scene, act, or episode) that leaves the audience in suspense, with a key conflict unresolved. Designed t...
Climax
The moment of highest tension in a story — the point where the central conflict reaches its peak and the outcome is deci...
Close-Up
A shot that tightly frames a person or object. A close-up of a face shows the full face. An extreme close-up (ECU) shows...
Coda
A short concluding scene that follows the climax and resolution. Shows the aftermath or "new normal" for the characters....
Cold Open
A scene before the opening credits that hooks the audience immediately. Common in TV shows....
Conflict
The struggle between opposing forces that drives the narrative. Can be internal (character vs. self), interpersonal (cha...
Continuity
The consistency of details across scenes — props in the same position, wardrobe matching, hair consistent, time of day l...
Continuous
A scene heading modifier indicating the action continues without a time break from the previous scene....
Coverage
A written evaluation of a screenplay by a reader, typically including a synopsis, comments, and a rating....
Crane Shot
A shot where the camera moves vertically and/or horizontally on a mechanical crane or jib arm. Creates sweeping, cinemat...
Cross-Cutting
Editing technique that alternates between two or more scenes happening simultaneously in different locations. Builds ten...
Cut To
A transition direction indicating an immediate change from one scene to another. Written as CUT TO: on the right margin....
D
Dailies
The raw, unedited footage shot each day during production. Reviewed by the director and key crew to check performances, ...
Day Player
An actor hired for a small role for one or a few days of shooting. Not a series regular or recurring cast member....
Denouement
The final resolution of the story after the climax. Loose ends are tied up, consequences are shown, and the new status q...
Deus Ex Machina
A plot device where an unexpected and unlikely event suddenly resolves an impossible situation. Generally considered poo...
Development
The phase where a screenplay idea is shaped into a finished script. Includes pitching, outlining, drafting, rewriting, a...
Dialogue
The spoken words of characters in a screenplay. Centered on the page beneath the character name....
Dissolve
A transition where one scene gradually fades into another. Written as DISSOLVE TO: — used to show passage of time....
Dolly Shot
A smooth camera movement where the entire camera is mounted on a wheeled platform (dolly) and physically moves toward, a...
Draft
A version of a screenplay. First draft, second draft, shooting draft, etc....
Dual Dialogue
Two characters speaking simultaneously, formatted side by side in the screenplay. Indicated by placing both character na...
E
Establishing Shot
A wide shot at the beginning of a scene that shows the location and context. Tells the audience where and when the scene...
Exposition
Information the audience needs to understand the story — character backgrounds, world rules, plot context. Best delivere...
EXT.
Abbreviation for Exterior. Used in scene headings to indicate an outdoor location. Example: EXT. PARK - DAY....
F
Fade In
The opening transition of a screenplay. The screen goes from black to the first image. Written as FADE IN: on the first ...
Fade Out
The closing transition. The image fades to black. Written as FADE OUT. at the end of the script....
Final Draft
The last version of a screenplay before production begins. Also the name of the industry-standard screenwriting software...
First Look Deal
A contract giving a studio the right to see and consider a writer or producer projects before they can take them elsewhe...
Flashback
A scene set in a time before the current story timeline. Indicated in the scene heading or with FLASHBACK: transition....
Foley
Sound effects created in post-production by recording real actions — footsteps, door creaks, glass breaking — and syncin...
Foreshadowing
A storytelling technique where hints or clues are planted early in the story that set up later plot points. When done we...
Fourth Wall
The imaginary wall between the characters and the audience. "Breaking the fourth wall" means a character directly addres...
H
I
Inciting Incident
The event that sets the story in motion and disrupts the protagonist ordinary world. Occurs early in Act 1 and forces th...
Insert
A close-up shot of an object or detail that is cut into a scene for emphasis. Shows something the audience needs to see ...
INT.
Abbreviation for Interior. Used in scene headings to indicate an indoor location. Example: INT. OFFICE - NIGHT....
Intercut
A direction to alternate between two locations, typically during a phone conversation....
L
M
MacGuffin
An object or goal that drives the plot but has little importance in itself. The characters care about it deeply, but the...
Master Shot
A wide shot that covers the entire action of a scene from beginning to end. Used as the base footage that close-ups and ...
Match Cut
A transition between two shots where the composition, movement, or subject visually matches. Creates a smooth, meaningfu...
Midpoint
The central turning point of a screenplay, roughly halfway through. Often raises the stakes dramatically....
Midpoint Reversal
A major shift in the story at the halfway mark that raises the stakes and changes the protagonist approach. The midpoint...
Montage
A series of short scenes or images showing a passage of time or a sequence of related events....
O
O.S.
Off Screen. Indicates a character is speaking from a location not visible to the camera but within the scene....
On the Nose
Dialogue that states exactly what a character is thinking or feeling, with no subtext. Generally considered weak writing...
One-Liner
A concise, memorable line of dialogue. Also refers to a brief (usually one-page) summary of a script or project....
Opening Credits
The names of key cast and crew displayed at the beginning of a film or TV episode. Can appear over action or on title ca...
Option
A legal agreement where a producer pays for the exclusive right to develop a screenplay for a set period of time. If the...
Outline
A structured summary of a screenplay scene by scene, usually 5-15 pages. More detailed than a beat sheet, less detailed ...
Over-the-Shoulder
A camera angle shot from behind one character, looking over their shoulder at the other character. Standard for dialogue...
P
Page One Rewrite
A complete rewrite of a screenplay from scratch, keeping only the basic concept. Everything else — structure, scenes, di...
Pan
A horizontal camera movement where the camera rotates left or right on a fixed axis. Used to follow action or reveal inf...
Parenthetical
A brief direction placed between a character name and their dialogue, in parentheses. Used for tone or delivery....
Pick Up
Additional shots filmed after principal photography to fill gaps, fix problems, or add material. Also refers to a networ...
Pitch
A verbal presentation of a screenplay idea to a producer, studio, or network. Can be a brief elevator pitch (30 seconds)...
Plant and Payoff
A storytelling technique where information is introduced early (plant) and becomes significant later (payoff). The plant...
Plot Point
A significant event that turns the story in a new direction. In three-act structure, major plot points occur at the end ...
Post-Production
The phase after filming where the movie is edited, sound is designed, visual effects are added, music is scored, and col...
POV Shot
A shot filmed from a character point of view — the camera shows exactly what the character sees....
Pre-Production
The planning phase before filming begins. Includes casting, location scouting, budgeting, scheduling, set design, costum...
Principal Photography
The main period of filming a movie or TV show. Begins on the first day of shooting and ends when all primary scenes are ...
Production Budget
The total estimated cost to produce a film or TV show, including all above-the-line and below-the-line expenses....
Protagonist
The main character of the story whose journey and choices drive the narrative. The audience experiences the story primar...
R
S
Scene
A continuous block of action in one location at one time. A new scene begins when the location or time changes. Each sce...
Scene Description
The action lines in a screenplay that describe what the audience sees and hears — physical action, settings, sounds, and...
Scene Heading
Also called a slug line. The line at the beginning of each scene indicating location and time of day....
Script Supervisor
The crew member responsible for tracking continuity, noting which takes are preferred, and ensuring all scripted coverag...
Set Piece
A major, elaborately staged sequence — usually an action scene, chase, or battle — that stands as a highlight of the fil...
Setup
Act 1 of a screenplay, where the characters, world, and central conflict are established. Also refers to the first part ...
Shooting Script
The final version of a screenplay used during production. Includes scene numbers and revision marks....
Showrunner
The head writer and executive producer of a TV series. Responsible for the creative vision, writing staff, budgets, and ...
Sides
Pages from a screenplay given to actors for auditions or daily shooting. Usually just the scenes that actor appears in....
Slug Line
Another name for a scene heading. INT. or EXT. followed by location and time of day....
Slugline
Another term for scene heading. The line at the start of each scene that indicates interior/exterior, location, and time...
Sound Design
The creative process of creating the audio elements of a film — ambient sounds, effects, atmosphere, and sonic textures ...
Spec Script
A screenplay written on speculation — without being commissioned or paid for. Written to sell or as a writing sample....
Stage Direction
Instructions in the script about physical actions, movements, or technical elements. In screenwriting, these appear as a...
Steadicam
A camera stabilization system worn by an operator that allows smooth, fluid shots while moving. Creates a floating, imme...
Stinger
A short scene after the credits (post-credits scene) that teases future storylines or provides a final joke. Common in M...
Subplot
A secondary storyline that supports or contrasts with the main plot. Adds depth and complexity....
Subtext
The unspoken meaning beneath dialogue. What characters really mean versus what they actually say. Good dialogue almost a...
Superimpose
Text displayed over the image, such as a location name or time. Written as SUPER: followed by the text....
Synopsis
A brief summary of the entire screenplay story, typically 1-3 pages. Used in pitching and submissions....
T
Table Read
A gathering where the cast reads the script aloud around a table, usually before production begins. Helps identify pacin...
Tag
A short scene at the end of a TV episode, after the main story concludes. Often humorous....
Teaser
A short opening sequence in a TV script designed to hook the audience before the main story....
Three-Act Structure
The most common screenplay structure: Act 1 (Setup), Act 2 (Confrontation), Act 3 (Resolution)....
Tilt
A vertical camera movement where the camera pivots up or down on a fixed axis. The camera does not physically move — onl...
Title Card
Text displayed on screen, usually on a black or colored background. Used for titles, time stamps, location identifiers, ...
Tracking Shot
A shot where the camera physically moves alongside, behind, or in front of the subject, following their movement through...
Transition
A direction indicating how one scene changes to the next. Common: CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, FADE TO, SMASH CUT....
Treatment
A prose version of a screenplay story, written in present tense. Typically 5-20 pages....
Turnaround
When a studio abandons a project and the writer or producer can take it to another studio. The new studio must reimburse...
Two-Shot
A camera framing that includes two people in the frame, typically during a conversation scene....
V
W
WGA
Writers Guild of America. The union representing screenwriters in film and television....
Wide Shot
A shot that shows the full environment and characters within it. Establishes spatial relationships and scale....
Wipe
A transition where one shot is pushed off screen by the next shot, as if being wiped away. Used in Star Wars and retro-s...
Wrap
The end of filming — either for the day ("That is a wrap for today") or for the entire production ("That is a series wra...
Wrylies
Informal term for parentheticals — the direction in parentheses between character name and dialogue....