Scenariu

Scenariu is a Romanian noun that primarily means scenario or screenplay. It refers to a written plan that outlines events, actions, and dialogue for a film, television episode, theatre production, radio program, or other narrative work. The term is also used for hypothetical sequences in planning and risk assessment, such as scenarii de urgență or business scenarii, which help organize responses, resources, and decision-making.

In media contexts, the scenariu functions as a blueprint for production. It typically includes scene descriptions, dialogue, character movements, setting notes, and technical directions (camera, lighting, sound). The writer responsible for creating it is a scenaristul (scenarist). The document often undergoes revisions before shooting or staging, reflecting collaborative input from directors, producers, and designers. In Romanian, scenariu can be used interchangeably with script in everyday speech, though scenariu tends to emphasize structure and narrative outline, while script may imply the exact spoken lines.

Structure and variants commonly found in a scenariu include a title, logline or synopsis, a list of characters, setting notes, and a sequence of scenes or acts with actions and dialogue. Formats vary by industry, project requirements, and language of the production, but the core purpose remains to organize storytelling and coordinate production tasks.

Beyond entertainment, scenarii are used in education, emergency planning, and policy analysis to explore multiple futures and test responses. In this sense, a scenariu is less about art and more about structured thinking, preparation, and strategic planning.