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