How to write a screenplay
  • 1. What is the primary purpose of a screenplay?
A) To outline the plot of a novel.
B) To be a finished literary work in itself.
C) To provide a blueprint for filming a movie.
D) To be a character study.
  • 2. What is 'slugline' another name for?
A) Scene Heading
B) Dialogue Tag
C) Character Cue
D) Action Line
  • 3. Which of these is the correct format for a scene heading?
A) INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
B) INT/EXT. Coffee Shop - Day
C) Int. Coffee Shop. Day.
D) Coffee Shop. Inside. Day.
  • 4. What does V.O. stand for in a screenplay?
A) Video Only
B) Visual Overlay
C) Verbal Observation
D) Voice Over
  • 5. What is the 'inciting incident'?
A) The climax of the film.
B) The event that sets the plot in motion.
C) The resolution of the conflict.
D) A minor plot point.
  • 6. What is the 'logline'?
A) A brief summary of the story.
B) A camera angle instruction.
C) A list of characters.
D) A detailed script analysis.
  • 7. What is a 'beat' in screenwriting?
A) A type of scene transition.
B) A musical cue.
C) A unit of dialogue length.
D) A pause or moment of silence.
  • 8. What is 'exposition'?
A) The final scene of the film.
B) A complex action sequence.
C) Background information about the story.
D) A character's emotional breakdown.
  • 9. What is 'conflict' essential for?
A) Making characters static.
B) Creating a peaceful atmosphere.
C) Driving the plot forward.
D) Boring the audience.
  • 10. What does 'montage' typically show?
A) A series of short scenes depicting a process or passage of time.
B) A single, extended action sequence.
C) A flashback to a character's past.
D) A dream sequence.
  • 11. What is the standard font and size for a screenplay?
A) Courier 12pt
B) Helvetica 14pt
C) Times New Roman 12pt
D) Arial 11pt
  • 12. What is the purpose of character development?
A) To make characters believable and relatable.
B) To have flat and uninteresting characters.
C) To make characters predictable.
D) To confuse the audience.
  • 13. What is a 'theme' in a screenplay?
A) The color scheme of the film.
B) A character's catchphrase.
C) A specific type of music used in the film.
D) The underlying message or idea of the story.
  • 14. What is the purpose of outlining before writing?
A) To avoid writing any dialogue.
B) To structure the story and plan the scenes.
C) To ensure the script is exactly like another film.
D) To eliminate all creativity.
  • 15. What does O.S. stand for in a screenplay?
A) Original Sound
B) Out of Sight
C) Off Screen
D) On Stage
  • 16. Which of these is NOT typically included in a screenplay?
A) Camera angles (unless crucial)
B) Character actions
C) Dialogue
D) Scene descriptions
  • 17. What is a 'treatment'?
A) A short promotional clip for the film.
B) A revised draft of the screenplay.
C) A legal document granting rights to the screenplay.
D) A detailed summary of the screenplay.
  • 18. What is 'pacing' in screenwriting?
A) The location of the film set.
B) The director's personal style.
C) The speed at which the story unfolds.
D) The rhythm of the dialogue.
  • 19. What is a 'callback'?
A) A phone call from the director.
B) When an actor forgets their lines.
C) A type of camera shot.
D) Referring back to an earlier event or line.
  • 20. What is the purpose of a 'resolution'?
A) To introduce new characters.
B) To complicate the plot further.
C) To leave the audience confused.
D) To resolve the central conflict.
  • 21. What is a 'MacGuffin'?
A) A scene that is cut from the final film.
B) An object or goal that drives the plot but is ultimately unimportant.
C) A type of special effect.
D) The main character's name.
  • 22. What is 'internal conflict'?
A) A conflict between two studios.
B) A disagreement over payment.
C) A physical fight between characters.
D) A struggle within a character's mind.
  • 23. What is the 'protagonist'?
A) The main character.
B) A minor character.
C) The director of photography.
D) The villain.
  • 24. What does ECU stand for?
A) Executive Creative Unit
B) End Credits Up
C) Exterior Cutaway Unit
D) Extreme Close Up
  • 25. What is 'point of view'?
A) The length of the screenplay.
B) The perspective from which the story is told.
C) The setting of the story.
D) The moral of the story.
  • 26. What is a 'red herring'?
A) A type of special effect involving smoke.
B) A misleading clue or distraction.
C) A minor character who has a red wig.
D) A flashback sequence.
  • 27. What is the purpose of a 'rewrite'?
A) To make the script worse.
B) To make the script longer.
C) To improve the script.
D) To simply retype the script.
  • 28. What is the 'antagonist'?
A) The character who opposes the protagonist.
B) The protagonist's best friend.
C) The writer of the screenplay.
D) A neutral character.
  • 29. What is 'mise-en-scène'?
A) A type of camera lens.
B) The arrangement of elements within a scene.
C) A method of improvising dialogue.
D) A screenplay formatting software.
  • 30. What is the 'rule of thirds' useful for?
A) Composing visually appealing shots.
B) Outlining a screenplay.
C) Casting actors.
D) Writing dialogue.
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