How to write screenplays
  • 1. What is the first thing you should do when starting a screenplay?
A) Write the dialogue.
B) Develop a compelling logline.
C) Create character bios.
D) Outline the action sequences.
  • 2. What is the standard screenplay font?
A) Arial 11pt
B) Helvetica 10pt
C) Courier 12pt
D) Times New Roman 12pt
  • 3. What does 'INT.' stand for?
A) Introduction
B) International
C) Intense
D) Interior
  • 4. What does 'EXT.' stand for?
A) Exterior
B) Extinguish
C) Extended
D) External
  • 5. A 'beat' in a screenplay refers to:
A) A pause or moment of silence.
B) A musical cue.
C) A fight scene.
D) A character's heartbeat.
  • 6. What is a screenplay's primary purpose?
A) To be a literary masterpiece.
B) To be read as a novel.
C) To be a blueprint for a film.
D) To win awards.
  • 7. What is 'slugline' another name for?
A) Scene Heading
B) Dialogue Tag
C) Action Line
D) Parenthetical
  • 8. Which of these is NOT a typical act in a three-act structure?
A) Setup
B) Confrontation
C) Denouement
D) Resolution
  • 9. What is the purpose of character arcs?
A) To show character development and change.
B) To pad the runtime.
C) To introduce new characters.
D) To confuse the audience.
  • 10. What is a 'MacGuffin'?
A) A flashback sequence.
B) A supporting character.
C) An object that drives the plot.
D) A special effect.
  • 11. What is the term for when information is given to the audience that the characters do not know?
A) Dramatic Irony
B) Situational Irony
C) Verbal Irony
D) Cosmic Irony
  • 12. What is the 'inciting incident'?
A) The climax of the story.
B) A minor plot point.
C) The resolution of the story.
D) The event that sets the story in motion.
  • 13. What is the importance of conflict in a screenplay?
A) It is not necessary for a good story.
B) It makes the story boring.
C) It makes the story predictable.
D) It drives the plot and creates tension.
  • 14. What is 'Voice Over' abbreviated as?
A) VOX
B) VCR
C) OV
D) V.O.
  • 15. Which of these is a common screenplay mistake?
A) Showing, not telling.
B) Creating compelling characters.
C) Using strong verbs.
D) Writing on-the-nose dialogue.
  • 16. What is a good page-to-screen-minute ratio in a screenplay?
A) 1 page equals approximately 1 minute of screen time.
B) 10 pages equals approximately 1 minute of screen time.
C) 5 pages equals approximately 1 minute of screen time.
D) 1 page equals approximately 5 minutes of screen time.
  • 17. What is a 'beat sheet'?
A) A list of camera angles.
B) A list of sound effects.
C) A character biography.
D) An outline of key plot points in a story.
  • 18. What is the purpose of a protagonist?
A) To drive the main action of the story
B) To provide comic relief.
C) To be a background character.
D) To be the villain.
  • 19. What is 'resolution' in a screenplay?
A) The part of the story where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up.
B) A moment of intense action.
C) A fight scene.
D) The introduction to a character.
  • 20. What does 'OS' stand for in a screenplay?
A) Off Screen
B) Out of Sync
C) Original Score
D) On Stage
  • 21. What is an antagonist?
A) The protagonist's best friend.
B) A supporting character who always agrees with the protagonist.
C) A neutral character.
D) The character or force opposing the protagonist.
  • 22. What is a 'treatment'?
A) A list of actors.
B) A marketing plan for the film.
C) A detailed summary of the screenplay.
D) A rough draft of the screenplay.
  • 23. What is a 'callback' in a screenplay?
A) Casting the film.
B) Referring back to an earlier plot point or joke.
C) A stage direction for an actor.
D) A phone call in the script.
  • 24. What is the 'climax' of a screenplay?
A) A minor conflict.
B) The turning point or most intense moment in the story.
C) The end of the story.
D) The beginning of the story.
  • 25. What does it mean to 'show, don't tell'?
A) To directly state facts to the audience.
B) To use only dialogue.
C) To hide the plot from the audience.
D) To reveal information through actions and visuals, not exposition.
  • 26. What is 'exposition' in a screenplay?
A) A surprise twist.
B) The most exciting part of the story.
C) A musical interlude.
D) Background information about the characters, setting, and plot.
  • 27. What is 'pacing' in a screenplay?
A) The director's notes.
B) The number of pages in the script.
C) The speed and rhythm of the story.
D) The font size used in the script.
  • 28. What is a 'logline'?
A) A detailed character biography.
B) A marketing slogan for the film.
C) A brief summary of the story's plot and central conflict.
D) A list of locations.
  • 29. What does 'POV' stand for in a screenplay?
A) Proof of Value
B) Power Over Voltage
C) Piece of Vinyl
D) Point of View
  • 30. What is the purpose of a montage?
A) To show the passage of time or a series of related events.
B) To introduce a new character.
C) To slow down the pace of the story.
D) To confuse the audience.
Created with That Quiz — the site for test creation and grading in math and other subjects.