282 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding MediaGlossary
Act – In dramatic writing and performance, an act is the main division of the
overall work. Plays are generally structured in one to fi ve acts, and scenes
are used to divide acts. In fi lm, three-act structure is used to describe story
conception that divides narratives into fi rst (setup), second (confl ict), and
third (resolution) acts.
Adaptation – A screenplay based on a pre-existing work, such as a novel, play,
or previous motion picture.
Antagonist – Th e fi gure of a story that opposes the protagonist and is the
primary source of confl ict with the main character. Th e antagonist, who may
be clearly a villain or simply in opposition to other fi gures in the narrative,
oft en drives action and instigates turning points in the plot.
Backstory – Events in the lives of the characters of the story that occurred
previous to the on-screen narrative.
Beat – (1) In theater, a beat is a moment of pause for the actor, and this is the
source of the use of the word within screenplays, in which it is a synonym
for pause. (2) A beat in screenplay analysis describes a structural unit of the
story signaled by a signifi cant change in the narrative, although beats can
also be broken up into smaller units, such as distinct dramatic moments
within a scene.
Exposition – A storytelling device through which the audience is provided with
information pertinent to the narrative of events occurring in the story.
Improvisation – Th e spontaneous creation of lines of dialogue or unscripted
actions during the production of a motion picture.
Logline – A one- or two-line statement of the plot of the fi lm.
Original screenplay – A script written directly for motion pictures, not adapted
or based on a previously created work, such as a novel, play, or another
movie.
Parenthetical direction – In screenwriting, a short indication placed in
parenthesis on a separate line preceding dialogue that provides information
about the dialogue delivery or state of the character.
Passive – A passive character does not make independent decisions and lets
outside infl uences drive the situations and events of his or her life.
Premise – Th e dramatic situation that is the source of the actions and confl ict
of the narrative in a story.
Protagonist – Th e main character in a motion picture (or play or other literary
work).
Scene card – Written breakdown of a scene on an index card or similar size
surface. Scene heading and a brief (approximately one sentence) description
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