screenplay

/ˌskrinˈpleɪ/

/ˈskrinpleɪ/

Other forms: screenplays

Before a movie can be filmed, a writer has to come up with a screenplay, a written script that describes all the action and every line the actors will speak.

How entertaining, thrilling, realistic, or fantastic a movie is depends on many variables, one of the most important being the screenplay. A truly great screenplay includes brilliant dialogue that develops the characters and moves the action forward. TV shows and elaborate video games also require screenplays. Some writers adapt books or older movies into new screenplays, while others come up with entirely original stories for their screenplays.

Definitions of screenplay

1. noun

   a script for a film including dialogue and descriptions of characters and sets
   type of:

   book, playscript, script

   a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance