Chapter 2: Writing and Formatting a Screenplay

Front

This is an outline of the screenplay or script.

Back

Treatment

Front

A written version of a film, video, audio, animation, or television show, indicating specifically what the audience is seeing and hearing.

Back

Screenplay

Front

A unit of action in one location and time.

Back

Scene

Front

The overall change in the main character from the beginning to the end of the story as a result of the action in the story.

Back

Character arc

Front

The idea behind the story or lesson of a movie or written work.

Back

Theme

Front

What is this an example of?
INT. CROWDED SCHOOL HALLWAY – DAY

Back

Slugline

Front

These act as scene breaks in your screenplay, they tell the reader how to go from one scene to the next.

Back

Transition

Front

What is this an example of?
BANNER
He really grows on you, doesn't he?
STEVE
Loki's gonna drag this out. So, Thor, what's his play?
THOR
He has an army called the Chitauri.

Back

Dialogue

Front

What is this an example of?
RED (V.O.) So when Andy Dufresne came to me in 1949 and asked me to smuggle Rita Hayworth into the prison for him, I told him no problem.

Back

Narration

Front

What is this an example of?
Lindbergh looks out of the cockpit window and sees small islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
LINDBERGH’S VOICE
There’s land. It is land. It is land! That’s no phantom, that’s earth. That’s green living earth!

Back

Inner Monologue