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