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