Screen Writing terms
scene description, character movement, and sounds described in the screenplay
What is action
a shot from a distance that establishes the location; it shows the viewer where we are
What is an establishing shot
used to suggest that an actor should pause before continuing
What is a beat
abbreviation for extreme close-up
what is E.C.U
Abbreviation for background; describes anything happening in the background of the scene
What is b.g.
simply a change in scene. We can either quickly "cut" to a new scene (immediate), or we can "dissolve"-- a slow blackening of the screen, followed by a slow re-lighting in the new scene
what is to cut to or dissolve
exterior setting: the scene takes place outdoors
What is Ext.
an editing transition whereby an image gradually appears on the screen; usually a film script begins with this.
What is Fade in/Fade to
an editing transition whereby an image gradually disappears on the screen; usually a film script ends with this
What is Fade out
interior setting: the scene occurs in is indoors
What is INT.
can refer to spoken dialogue, but the person speaking is not "in the shot;" they are off-screen, but we hear it anyway
What is O.C./O.S.
When the camera moves across something
What is to pan
the position from which an action of subject is seen, often determining its significance.
What is P.O.V.
Their names appear in ALL CAPS the first time the they appear; whenever they speaks, their name appears in ALL CAPS
What is a character
one image; there are many, many, many different types of these
What is a shot
means what the camera sees, and there are specific types.
What is angle on
when the camera moves slowly across something
What is a slow pan
an event that takes place in one location or time; every time you change location or time it’s a new one of these; they are indicated by slug lines
What is a scene
Describes the position of the camera when it is above the subject
What is a high angle
when the camera moves quickly across something
What is a whip/swish/flash pan
a series of shots, usually without dialogue, which quickly tells a section of the story
What is a montage
direction for the actor to deliver their lines in a particular way
What is a parenthetical
used as a transition or at the start of the slug line to indicate a sequence that happened in the past; may be followed by BACK TO PRESENT DAY
What is a flashback
the text in ALL CAPS at the beginning of a scene that described the location and time of day; slug lines are always short and direct and begin with either “INT.” or “EXT.”
What is a slug line
the voice of someone not seen in the image who is describing or commenting on the image that is taking place; often this is the character’s thoughts not said out loud
What is V.O.