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Beat: A pause in dialogue or action, often used to indicate a moment of silence or a shift in tone.
Character: A person, animal, or entity in the story. Character names are written in all caps the first time they appear1.
Dialogue: The spoken words of the characters, formatted centrally on the page under the character's name.
Fade In/Fade Out: Transitions where the screen gradually goes from black to the first image (Fade In) or from the last image to black (Fade Out).
INT./EXT.: Scene headings indicating whether the scene takes place inside (Interior) or outside (Exterior).
Parenthetical: Instructions for the actor on how to deliver a line, placed within parentheses next to the dialogue.
Plot: The sequence of events that make up the story.
Scene: A unit of action in a screenplay, usually set in one location and with a beginning, middle, and end.
Shot: A single, continuous recording made by a camera.
Story Beat: A significant event or moment in the narrative that marks a shift in the story.
Subtext: The underlying meaning or emotion behind the dialogue.
Theme: The central idea or message of the story.
Transition: A visual or auditory effect that connects one scene to another, such as a cut, dissolve, or wipe.
Voice Over (V.O.): Dialogue spoken by a character that is not present on screen, often used for narration.
CUT TO: A transition indicating a direct change from one scene to another.
DISSOLVE TO: A transition where one image gradually fades out while the next image fades in, often used to signify the passage of time.
Match Cut: A transition where two visually similar shots are juxtaposed to create a seamless connection between scenes.
Montage: A series of short scenes or images edited together to show the passage of time, development of a theme, or a sequence of events.
Point of View (POV): A shot that shows the audience what a character is seeing.
Slugline: A heading that indicates the location and time of day for a scene, usually formatted as INT. or EXT. followed by the location and time.
Spec Script: A screenplay written "on speculation" without a commission, hoping to sell it to a production company.
Table Read: A read-through of the script by the cast, usually conducted before filming begins, to help actors understand their roles and the flow of the story.
Tagline: A brief, catchy phrase used in marketing to convey the essence of the story or its main selling point.
Three-Act Structure: A common narrative structure that divides the story into three parts: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution.
Logline: A brief summary of a screenplay's plot, usually one or two sentences long, highlighting the main conflict and key elements.
Option: A contractual agreement that gives a producer or studio the exclusive rights to purchase a screenplay within a specified period.
Coverage: A report prepared by a script reader that provides a summary, analysis, and evaluation of a screenplay.
High Concept: A story idea that can be easily pitched and understood, often characterized by a unique and marketable premise.
Cold Open: A scene that takes place before the opening credits or title sequence, designed to grab the audience's attention immediately.
Set Piece: A large, dramatic, or elaborate scene that is central to the story and often involves significant action or spectacle.
Act Break: The point in the screenplay where one act ends and another begins, often marked by a major plot development or turning point.
Spec Script: A screenplay written without a specific commission, with the hope of selling it to a production company.
Script Doctor: A writer brought in to revise or rewrite parts of a screenplay to improve its structure, dialogue, or pacing.
Stakes: The potential consequences or risks faced by the characters in the story, which drive the narrative tension and conflict.
Antagonist: A character or force in opposition to the protagonist, creating conflict within the story.
B-Roll: Supplementary footage that provides context or visual interest, often used in documentaries or to cover cuts.
Backstory: The background information about a character or setting that informs the main narrative.
Chekhov's Gun: A principle that every element in a story should be necessary and irrelevant elements should be removed; if a gun is shown in the first act, it must go off in the third.
Coverage: A report summarizing a script, often including a synopsis, comments, and a recommendation, used by studios to decide whether to move forward with a project.
Flashback: A scene set in a time earlier than the main story, used to provide context or background information.
Foreshadowing: A technique where subtle hints or clues are provided to suggest future events in the story.
Inciting Incident: An event that sets the main plot in motion, often disrupting the protagonist's normal life and introducing the central conflict.
Plant and Payoff: A storytelling technique where a piece of information or an object is introduced early (plant) and used later in the story (payoff) for dramatic effect.
Protagonist: The main character in a story, often facing challenges and undergoing personal growth or change.
Script Supervisor: A crew member responsible for ensuring continuity throughout the filming process, tracking details such as props, wardrobe, and actor movements.
Spec Script: A screenplay written "on speculation" without a commission, hoping to sell it to a production company.
Treatment: A detailed summary of a screenplay, outlining the story, characters, and major plot points without full dialogue or scene descriptions.
Two-Hander: A script or scene that focuses on two main characters and their interactions.
Voiceover (VO): Dialogue spoken by a character that is not seen on screen, often used for narration or to convey inner thoughts.
Walla: Background noise created by a group of people to simulate crowd conversations, often recorded as an ambient sound layer.
Whip Pan: A rapid camera movement that blurs the image, often used to transition between scenes or shots.
Write-up: A brief synopsis or summary of a script, often used in pitch meetings or for promotional purposes.
Wryly: A parenthetical instruction indicating that a line of dialogue should be delivered in a sarcastic or ironic tone.
Zoom In/Out: A camera movement that magnifies (zooms in) or reduces (zooms out) the size of the subject in the frame.
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