screenplays

A screenplay is a written document that communicates the story, dialogue, and cinematic action for a film, television program, or other motion picture project. It serves as a blueprint for production, guiding directors, actors, designers, and crew from conception through shooting.

Screenplays typically present content in a standardized format. They include scene headings that begin with INT. or EXT., followed by location and time of day; action lines describing the setting and events; character names centered over their dialogue; dialogue blocks; and occasional parentheticals or transitions. They are commonly written in the present tense and emphasize what is seen and heard on screen.

Most screenplays are written to facilitate production rather than to reveal internal thoughts. Designers and producers may produce a shooting script that adds camera directions, shot lists, and other production notes; the primary screenplay, however, focuses on story, structure, and dialogue.

Structure commonly follows a three‑act framework, with setup, confrontation, and resolution, though formats vary by genre and intent. Feature scripts are typically about 90 to 120 pages, roughly one page per minute of screen time; television scripts vary by program and format.

The drafting process involves outlines, treatments, and multiple revisions in collaboration with editors, showrunners, and producers. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations of books, plays, or articles, and are evaluated for character, pacing, and visual storytelling.

In professional contexts, screenplays adhere to industry conventions for readability and sharing, and are distributed to agents, studios, and production companies. They remain living documents throughout development and production, changing as the project evolves.