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