Scriptwriting Essentials 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In standard screenplay format, what is the purpose of a 'slugline' (scene heading)?
- To establish location, interior/exterior, and time of day (Correct answer)
- To describe a character's emotional state
- To indicate background music
- To list the props needed for the scene
Correct answer: To establish location, interior/exterior, and time of day
A slugline tells the reader whether the scene is INT./EXT., where it takes place, and the time of day.
Question 2: What does the abbreviation 'O.S.' mean in a screenplay?
- Off Screen (Correct answer)
- Open Set
- Original Score
- On Stage
Correct answer: Off Screen
O.S. (Off Screen) indicates a character is heard but not seen within the physical space of the scene.
Question 3: Which element appears in ALL CAPS the first time a character is introduced in the action lines?
- The character's name (Correct answer)
- The location
- The time of day
- The dialogue
Correct answer: The character's name
A character's name is capitalized on first appearance in the action to flag them for the reader and crew.
Question 4: What is a 'parenthetical' in screenplay dialogue?
- A brief direction on how a line is delivered (Correct answer)
- A camera angle instruction
- A scene transition
- A sound effect cue
Correct answer: A brief direction on how a line is delivered
A parenthetical, placed under the character name, gives a short cue like (whispering) on how to say the line.
Question 5: Why is screenplay action written in the present tense?
- To convey events as they happen on screen (Correct answer)
- Because past tense is grammatically incorrect
- To save space on the page
- Because directors prefer it stylistically only
Correct answer: To convey events as they happen on screen
Present tense makes the reader experience the film unfolding in real time as the audience would.
Question 6: What does 'V.O.' stand for and indicate?
- Voice Over — narration not tied to the on-screen space (Correct answer)
- Visual Order — the sequence of shots
- Vocal Onset — when an actor starts speaking
- Verbal Offset — a delayed line
Correct answer: Voice Over — narration not tied to the on-screen space
V.O. (Voice Over) is a voice layered over the scene, such as narration or a phone caller, not present in the scene's space.
Question 7: Roughly how many script pages typically equal one minute of screen time?
- One page (Correct answer)
- Three pages
- Five pages
- Half a page
Correct answer: One page
The industry rule of thumb is that one properly formatted page equals about one minute of screen time.
Scriptwriting Essentials 2
In standard screenplay format, what is the purpose of a 'slugline' (scene heading)?