screenwriting
Penning film dialogue
Screenwriting is the craft of writing scripts for film or television.
A screenplay structures dialogue, action, and scene descriptions in a specific format that guides directors, actors, and crew.
The work involves not just storytelling but understanding visual narrative—what the camera sees, how scenes cut together.
She studied screenwriting at film school.
The screenwriting process took two years.
Central recurring concept
- conflictOpposition between parties
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- tensionStretched or strained state
stakes · premise · logline · synopsis · genre · tone · point-of-view · voiceover
Script's scene header
- transitionChange from one state
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- superimposePlace atop something else
- chyronOn-screen text graphic
Strokes connecting two points
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- reparteeQuick, clever conversation
subtext · exposition · quip · vernacular · voice · wit · beats · parenthetical
Frequency of sound
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- greenlightAuthorization to proceed
- optionAvailable course of action
showrunner · studio · producer · agent · manager · WGA · residuals · assignment
Story's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- arcCurved line segment
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
backstory · flaw · transformation · growth · dynamic · static · round · flat
Divided into trio
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- climaxPoint of greatest intensity
- denouementStory's final unraveling
exposition · midpoint · resolution · setup · payoff · pacing · subplot · A-story
theme
Central recurring concept
- conflictOpposition between parties
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- twistRotating motion or surprise
tension · stakes · premise · logline · synopsis · genre · tone · point-of-view · voiceover · flashback
slugline
Script's scene header
- transitionChange from one state
- montageAssembled sequence of images
- superimposePlace atop something else
lines
Strokes connecting two points
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
repartee · subtext · exposition · quip · vernacular · voice · wit · beats · parenthetical · punch-up
pitch
Frequency of sound
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- greenlightAuthorization to proceed
option · showrunner · studio · producer · agent · manager · WGA · residuals · assignment · rewrite
protagonist
Story's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- arcCurved line segment
- developmentProgress toward maturity
motivation · backstory · flaw · transformation · growth · dynamic · static · round · flat · complexity
three-act
Divided into trio
denouement · exposition · midpoint · resolution · setup · payoff · pacing · subplot · A-story · B-story
- collaborationscollaborators, joint task force, joint project, duo, coalition forces
- TV studiesratings, Nielsen, viewership, network analysis, fandom
- writing craftdiction, pacing, prose style, structure, drafting
- entertainmentmovie, movies, films, band, television
- entertainment industrytheater, film, television, music, dance
- filmmovies, film, filmmaking, cinematography, film editing
screenwritingnovel writing
Creating extended fictional narratives
prose fiction · literary fiction · playwriting · poetry · essay writing
screenwritingcinematography
Motion picture visual craft
directing · film editing · acting · production design · sound design
screen, writing, playwright, screenplay, screenwriter, scriptwriter, playwrights, playwriting, screenwriters