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