It’s Hollywood, baby!
FILM UNIT LINGO
START WITH THE STORY
 We WILL write screenplays, but we will start by READING
THEM.
 They look and read a certain way.
 They have their own lingua-franca, so to speak.
 All the storytelling techniques you know from this year still
play…but the way in which you will write/read changes
slightly.
WHAT IS A SCREENPLAY?
 In the most basic terms, a screenplay is a 90-120 page
document written in Courier 12pt font on 8 1/2" x 11" bright
white three-hole punched paper.
 Courier is used for timing. One formatted script page in
Courier font equals roughly one minute of screen time.
 At its heart, a screenplay is a blueprint for the film it will one
day become.
 Since the creation of a film is ultimately a collaborative art,
the screenwriter must be aware of each person's role and as
such, the script should reflect the writer's knowledge.
 It is crucial to remember that film is a visual medium. As a
screenwriter, you must show what's happening in a story,
rather than tell. A 2-page inner monologue may work well for
a novel, but is the kiss of death in a script.
Story Analysis
1) what is the PLOT? (what is the story about)
2) what is the THEME? (what is the message)
3) what is the LOGIC? (does the story make sense)
4) what is the EXPOSITION? (what are the characters
doing/thinking)
5) what is the COMPLICATION? (what is the drama in the story)
6) what creates the TENSION? (what will happen next)
7) what is the MAIN QUESTION? (what problem is to be solved)
Story Analysis
8) what is the MAIN ACTION? (what event hooks the audience)
9) what is the CAUSE OF THE ACTION? (what happens to the main
character)
10) what is the RESULTING ACTION? (the answer to the main
question)
11) what is the CONCLUSION? (how does the story end)
12) who is the PROTAGONIST? (the main character)
13) who is the ANTAGONIST? (could be one or more characters)
14) who is the MOST INTERESTING CHARACTER? (not always the
main character)
15) where does the story TAKE PLACE? (location, time period)
Scene Analysis
1) what is the INTENT of the scene? (what is the scene used for
dramatically)
2) what are the PLOT POINTS? (points that move the story forward)
3) what is the CLIMAX of each scene? (what is the turning point)
4) what is the RESOLUTION? (how is the theme resolved)
5) what is the CONCLUSION? (how does the scene end)
6) what are the important LINES OF DIALOGUE? (contain story points)
7) which character CONTROLS the scene? (who pushes the story
forward)
8) what are the BEATS/UNIT CHANGES? (where does the story change
directions
Structural Elements
1) foreshadowing
9) comedy scenes
2) recurring motifs
10) special effects (explosions etc)
3) scene transitions
11) visual effects (CGI, green screen etc)
4) counterpoint
12) locations
5) repetition
6) contrast
7) clarity of information
8) action and stunts
Script Structure
 The “traditional” Three Act Structure of a script:
 ACT ONE – THE SET-UP (Boy Meets Girl)
 ACT TWO – CONFRONTATION (Boy Loses girl – fights to get
her back)
 ACT THREE – RESOLUTION (Boy Gets Girl)
Page-by-page
 Scene Heading
 A scene heading is a one-line description of the location and
time of day of a scene, also known as a "slugline." It should
always be in CAPS.
 Example: EXT. WRITERS STORE - DAY reveals that the action takes
place outside The Writers Store during the daytime.
 Subheader
 When a new scene heading is not necessary, but some
distinction needs to be made in the action, you can use a
subheader. But be sure to use these sparingly
 . A good example is when there are a series of quick cuts
between two locations, you would use the term INTERCUT and
the scene locations.
Page-by-page
 Action
 The narrative description of the events of a scene, written in the
present tense. Also less commonly known as direction, visual
exposition, blackstuff, description or scene direction.
 Remember - only things that can be seen and heard should be
included in the action.
 Character
 When a character is introduced, his name should be capitalized
within the action. For example: The door opens and in walks
ERIC, a thirty-something hipster with attitude to spare.
 A character's name is CAPPED and always listed above his lines
of dialogue. Minor characters may be listed without names, for
example "TAXI DRIVER" or "CUSTOMER."
Page-by-page
 Dialogue
 Lines of speech for each character. Dialogue format is used
anytime a character is heard speaking, even for off-screen and
voice-overs.
 Parenthetical
 A parenthetical is direction for the character, that is either
attitude or action-oriented. With roots in the playwriting genre,
today, parentheticals are used very rarely, and only if absolutely
necessary.
 Why? Two reasons. First, if you need to use a parenthetical to
convey what's going on with your dialogue, then it probably just
needs a good re-write. Second, it's the director's job to instruct
an actor on how to deliver a line, and everyone knows not to
encroach on the director's turf!
Page-by-page
 Extension
 Placed after the character's name, in parentheses
 An abbreviated technical note placed after the character's
name to indicate how the voice will be heard onscreen, for
example, if the character is speaking as a voice-over, it would
appear as ERIC (V.O.).
 Transition
 Transitions are film editing instructions, and generally only
appear in a shooting script. Transition verbiage includes:
 CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO, SMASH CUT, QUICK CUT, FADE TO
 For example, you might need to use DISSOLVE TO: to indicate
that a large amount of time has passed.
Page-by-page
 Shot
 A shot tells the reader the focal point within a scene has
changed.
 Like a transition, there's rarely a time when a spec screenwriter
should insert shot directions. Once again, that's the director's
job. However, sometimes the writer is also the director .
 Examples of Shots:
ANGLE ON
EXTREME CLOSE UP
PAN TO
ERIC'S POV
Looks Like…
Looks Like…
Where to look for scripts
 http://www.simplyscripts.com/oscar_winners.html
(Better—All Oscar Winning scripts)
 http://www.screenplays-online.de
(Decent—a huge list; look up the quality of the film/script
online before choosing)