Scenarijus

Scenarijus is the written document that serves as a blueprint for a film, television program, theatre production, radio show, or other narrative media. It outlines the story, including the plot, characters, dialogue, and sequence of scenes, and may also include directions for action, setting, mood, and technical notes. The form and level of detail vary by medium and country, but all scenarijus variants aim to communicate how the story should unfold to directors, actors, editors, and production crews.

Structure and content: A typical scenarijus includes a title page, logline or synopsis, a list of characters, a scene-by-scene or act-by-act breakdown, dialogue lines, and descriptive passages for action, setting, and mood. In film and television, it often uses scene headings, action lines, and pacing notes, sometimes with camera directions; in theatre, it emphasizes stage directions and dialogue; in radio, it relies on sound cues and spoken words without visuals. The exact formatting depends on national conventions and the intended production.

Creation and use: The scenarijus is usually written by a writer or writing team, sometimes called a scenaristas in Lithuanian contexts, and refined through several drafts with input from producers and directors. Once approved, it guides casting, location scouting, budgeting, scheduling, and shooting. It may be revised during production and occasionally updated into a shooting script with technical instructions for cameras, lighting, and effects. The scenarijus thus serves as the central document around which a media project is organized.