Filmmaking Terms | Pre-Production | Script/Story

logline = a one-sentence summary of the core conflict of a story, often including the protagonist(=the leading character), antagonist(=main enemy or rival), and inciting incident(= the event that sets the main plot in motion, disrupting the protagonist's ordinary world)

synopsis = a brief overview of a story, usually one to two paragraphs, outlining the main plot points treatment = a detailed summary of a screenplay, typically 10-30 pages, that includes key scenes, character descriptions, and plot progression, but without dialogue screenplay = a written work that provides the blueprint for a film, television show, or other visual story, including dialogue, character actions, and scene descriptions dialogue = the spoken words exchanged between characters in a film monologue = a long speech by one character in a film, often delivered directly to the audience or to another character without interruption character arc = the transformation or journey a character undergoes over the course of a story plot point = a significant event in the story that pushes the narrative forward or changes its direction climax = the point of highest tension or drama in a story, where the main conflict comes to a head resolution = the conclusion of the story, where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up theme = the underlying message, idea, or subject explored in a film genre = a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter (eg, drama, comedy, horror) adaptation = a film based on a pre-existing work, such as a novel, play, or comic book original = a film based on a story or concept created specifically for that film, not adapted from another source