Glossary
Atlanta Film Project (AFP) Screenwriting Terms
Terms marked ** are original to Atlanta Film Project. © Atlanta Film Project. Please credit if you use them.
A
Action - an element of the script describing the actions that can be seen or heard
**Action That Must Be Taken - what must be done so the character will beat their obstacle
Advertisement (Ad) - information given in a script to advertise a later event or happening
B
Beat Sheet - a detailed outline in script format that follows the emotional beats of a script
Beat - a moment that shifts the dynamic in a scene
C
Character - a person, place, group, movement, or idea moving through a script
Character Arc - the change that occurs in a character over time due to the circumstances of the story's plot
Character Description - the sentence(s) used to introduce a character, describing them
**Character Dialects - the unique way in which a character communicates
Character Introduction Scene - the scene or sequence that introduces the audience to a character and their way of being or state of mind
Character Name - elements of the script that notate which character is speaking, for the dialogue element
Climax - the dramatic scene or sequence where the main character's want is seemingly accomplished but is unsustainable because lasting change has not occurred
Closing Scene - the last scene of a script
**Comfortable Dysfunction - the state of a character's life before their inciting incident. Usually reflects the state of their Status Quo scenes
**Community Language - the unique way of communicating that is common in a script’s community
**Compromise Scene - a scene in which a character compromises their personal code of ethics
Conclusion - a scene or sequence that answers the question of the story statement
Core Audience - the audience a writer has in mind to best appreciate and enjoy their story
D
Demographics - race, gender, age, political views, nationality, economic, political, or social background, etc
Dialogue - the element of the script containing the spoken words of characters
**Duplicate Events, Moments, or Scenes - events, moments, or scenes that accomplish the same goal as another event, moment, or scene
E
Elevator Pitch - the engaging and brief pitch of your script
**Emotionally Jarring Incident - emotionally significant incident that causes the action that must be taken
**Essence Words - words that describe the essence of a character
Events - major plot points that may include multiple scenes, moving the story forward
External Obstacle - a person, institution, thing, external idea, or thought process that hinders a character from accomplishing their want
F-G
Genre - category of a movie based on subject matter, tone, and style
Ghost Plant - the planting of information in a script that is well-hidden
H
High Stakes - the elevated version of what is to be won or lost by a character, ensuring they must overcome a compelling feat to win
**Humanity Scene - a scene in which a character's sense of humanity is revealed
I
Inciting Incident - a plot point that sends a character or characters on the main journey of the story
Internal Obstacle - an internal thought process or wound that hinders a character from accomplishing their goal
J-L
Lasting Change - the action a character takes to reflect the major internal shift they've made, due to the circumstances of the story's plot
Low Stakes - a less compelling feat to overcome by a character
Lowest Point (All Is Lost) - the point where the main character has lost both their Want and seemingly access to their Need
M
Main Character - the person, place, group, movement, or idea driving the story forward with their actions
Main Character Type - the most basic demographic a character represents
Major Plot Point - a moment or scene that pushes the story forward
Midpoint - a significant plot point that occurs in the middle of the script, often revealing a twist or turning point
Minor Plot Point - a moment or scene that deepens the development of a character, theme, or world; ultimately aiding the movement of the story
Missing Moments, Scenes, or Sequences - gaps in the narrative caused by a missing beat, plot point, scene, or sequence needed for a cohesive story
Most Challenging Scene - a scene that will be a complex challenge for the writer to tackle
Mythology - set of rules, ramifications, or concepts unique to the world of a script, created by the writer
N
Need - the deeper issue a character is attempting to solve by accomplishing their want
O
Obstacle - person, institution, thing, idea, or thought process that hinders a character from accomplishing their goal
Opening Scene - first scene of the script
P
Payoff - satisfying outcome stemming from a plant earlier in the script
Parenthetical - an element of the script that provide context or instruction for the dialogue delivery, to be used sparingly
Plant - information subtly communicated earlier in the script that will be meaningful by being "paid off" later in the script
Point of No Return - the action a character takes in reaction to the inciting incident that sets their journey in motion
Political Climate - political state of the world of a script
Post-Conclusion - an additional beat, scene, or sequence that wraps up loose story ends or doubles down on a character's lasting change
Premise - the initial state of affairs that drives the plot of the script
Q-R
Reaction to the Inciting Incident - the action the main character takes in reaction to the inciting incident that sets their journey in motion
Reaction to the Lowest Point (Lasting Change) - the action the main character takes to reflect the major internal shift they've made, due to the circumstances of the script's plot
**Relationship Change Formula - formula that shows the shift in relationship between two characters
**Relationship Formula - formula that shows what binds two characters together
Rules of the World - a set of rules that your story lives inside of
S
Scene - the narrative building blocks of a sequence, pushing the story forward
Scene Heading (or Slug Line) - element of the script before each scene that notates if the scene is inside or outside (INT/EXT), the location, and time of day, most usually DAY or NIGHT, always in ALL CAPS
Scene Goal - what the scene is intended to accomplish in relationship to the overall narrative of the script
Secondary Character - character(s) not involved in driving the story of the script forward
Sentiments (Subtext) - meaning behind what a character is saying or doing
Social Climate - the social state of the world created in a script
Stakes - what is to be won or lost, depending on how a character responds to the central obstacle of the story
Stakes/Obstacle Combination - a formula revealing the relationship between an obstacle and its stakes
Status Quo - the state of being for a character, usually seen within the first few scenes of the script
Storylines - threads of narrative taking place in a script
Story Statement - the overall question that a script is asking
Synopsis - a detailed, but efficient telling of the story in a script
T
Tactics - the ways in which a character attempts to accomplish a goal
Tangible Want - a character's tangible goal that fuels their journey through a script, answering the story statement
Theme - a subject being explored in the script, giving it complexity and universal appeal
Tone - the mood of a script, indicated by the writer’s choice of story circumstances and writing style
Transition - the final element of a scene, transitioning to the next scene or the end of the script. Use sparingly, only to highlight a notable transition
**Trigger - scene or sequence of scenes that jump-starts the plot’s journey to the Lowest Point
U-Z
Universal - the way in which an element in a script is relatable to all people
Want - what a character desires, which ends up being a cosmetic attempt to avoid addressing what they need
World - the environment in which a story takes place
**World History - the history of the world in a script
**World Palette - a chart of words that describe the world of a script
**World Rules - rules that define the world of a script
**World Rules Statement - a sentence created to define the world rules of a script
Terms marked ** are original to Atlanta Film Project. © Atlanta Film Project. Please credit if you use them.