Scriptwriting Terms 3

Question 1

What is the 'inciting incident' in a screenplay?

Accepted Answer

The event that sets the main story in motion

Answer

The inciting incident is the event that disrupts the protagonist's status quo and launches the central conflict.

Question 2

What does 'MONTAGE' indicate in a script?

Accepted Answer

A series of short shots condensing time or events

Answer

A montage is a sequence of brief shots edited together to compress time or convey a process.

Question 3

What is 'exposition' in screenwriting?

Accepted Answer

Background information conveyed to the audience

Answer

Exposition is the delivery of backstory and context the audience needs to understand the story.

Question 4

What does the term 'on the nose' dialogue mean?

Accepted Answer

Dialogue that states meaning too directly without subtext

Answer

On-the-nose dialogue says exactly what a character thinks or feels with no subtext, often considered weak writing.

Question 5

What is a 'McGuffin'?

Accepted Answer

An object or goal that drives the plot but has little intrinsic importance

Answer

A McGuffin is a plot device—an object or goal characters pursue that motivates the story but matters little in itself.

Scriptwriting Practice Test