Embedded Files
What's In A Screenplay?
What's In A Screenplay?
CHARACTER: The name of the character speaking is centered. If the character is speaking off screen, you might see (O/S). If the character speaking is not actually in the scene you might see (V/O) or "voiceover"
DIALOGUE: What the characters say (no quotation marks necessary!)
SLUG LINE: Also known as "scene heading," slug lines in all caps tell you WHERE and WHEN a scene takes place: INT.(interior) or EXT. (exterior) + LOCATION + TIME of DAY
ACTION: Action describes what's happening on screen. Action is always justified left -- in other words, the text is aligned with the left hand side of the page
DIRECTIONS indicate how a line should be read (in parentheses)
TRANSITIONS refer to changes in scene. They might include CUT, DISSOLVE, or FADE
Charles Yu uses screenplay conventions and BREAKS screenplay conventions in order to blur the line between performance and reality, prose and screenwriting. See if you can spot the difference!
Intimidated by the format? Just read from left to right, top to bottom, and try to picture the movie in your mind. For more information and support, watch this video!
INDUSTRY VOCAB
INDUSTRY VOCAB
In order of appearance...
LOGLINE (23)
a short, introductory summary of a film, usually found on the first page of the screenplay, to be read by executives, judges, agents, producers and script-readers; all screenwriters use loglines to sell their scripts; also known as premise (filmsite)
RESIDUALS (49)
Like royalties, residuals are financial compensations paid to actors, film or television directors, or other production members for the reuse of their work such as reruns, syndication, DVD release, or online streaming
FLASHBACK (53)
An alteration of story order in which the plot moves back to show events that have taken place earlier than ones already shown
HEADSHOT (66)
A promotional portrait photo used by professional actors, models, authors, etc.
SMASH TO (76)
A Smash Cut is an abrupt transition between scenes that occurs without warning, potentially to startle the audience
EXTRAS (88)
a person who appears in a movie in a non-specific, non-speaking, unnoticed, or unrecognized character role, such as part of a crowd or background, e.g., a patron in a restaurant, a soldier on a battlefield; usually without any screen credit; also termed atmosphere people; contrast with walk-on and non-speaking role, bit players, or principals (filmsite)
TYPECAST(105)
assign (an actor or actress) repeatedly to the same type of role, as a result of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in such roles; to represent or regard (a person or their role) as a stereotype
FADE TO BLACK (119)
a transition in which the image gradually disappears as the screen darkens to black. Compare to “fade in” where a dark screen gradually brightens as a shot appears
VO or VOICE OVER (140)
a piece of narration in a movie or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker
SEGMENT (191)
A short piece of film that forms part of a TV show or radio program
LOGLINES
LOGLINES
You try! Write a logline for Interior Chinatown; can you summarize the book in one catchy sentence that captures your audience's attention?
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