Act Most movies are divided into sections or "acts". The three-act structure is commonly used in feature films. Television movies often have seven acts that correspond with commercial breaks. Adaptation A screenplay or film that has been transcribed from a pre-existing work of another medium (e.g., novel, stage play, news article). Examples: THE CIDERHOUSE RULES and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. Arc The emotional transformation a character undergoes during the course of a story or film. Agent A broker, paid on commission (generally 10%), who sells stories and talent to studios and production companies. Antagonist The bad guy or villain. A force or person who stands in the way of or opposes the hero's goal or success. Attachment A term in reference to having a celebrity, director or producer involved or interested in a project. Beat An important moment in the structure of a story when the conflict produces a change. Based On True Story Refers to a story that originates from real people or events. Examples: THE HURRICANE & THE PERFECT STORM. Buyer The person who purchases the rights to a story. This may include producers, publishers, production companies, magazines, studios - anyone. Climax The zenith or high point of the film's dramatic action or conflict in which the entire story reaches its ultimate confrontation. Commercial Appealing to a wide audience with common themes and a relatable story. Coverage Studios often hire readers to assist in reading and evaluating scripts. A reader's report or "coverage" gives a synopsis of the story with a recommendation to either buy or turn down (pass) the script. Credit List of individuals and their involvement (writer, director, costume designer) as pertains to the production of a film. Credits usually appear at the end of a film, as opposed to titles, which are listed at the beginning of a film. Demographic Specific groups of people that are the focus or target audience for a film. Example: white females aged 18-25. Development The preliminary process that a movie undergoes, beginning with the acquisition of an idea, through the writing stages and ending with the onset of filming. Lots of ideas, work and money are put into development in the writing, rewriting and revising of a screenplay. DGA Directors Guild of America: the union that governs directors in film and television industries. DGA Agreement The document negotiated in 1987 between the DGA and signatory production groups. Distributor A company that signs theater chains to show a film, providing them with a print of the movie in return for a percentage of ticket sales. Documentary A non-fiction film or television version of a story. Edgy Material that is fresh, hip, unexpected is edgy. This term is often overused. Elements Creative groups of people such as stars, directors or producers who have "attached" themselves to a project. Event Movie A promotional tag that describes a feature film or television movie with a big star, big budget or big time special effects. Feature Film A film made to be released in motion picture theaters. Financier A source who funds the production cost of a film. Force Majeure This term protects the production of a film from any interruption or interference with the preparation, production, completion or distribution of a film caused by forces beyond the control of the studio or producer. Including, but not limited to, fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, accident, war, blockade, embargo, act of a public enemy, civil disturbance, labor dispute (or threatened dispute), strike, lockout, inability to secure sufficient labor, essential commodities, necessary equipment or adequate transportation facilities, any applicable law, any act of God, or the incapacity or unavailability of the director, a principal member of the cast, or the director of photography of the picture. Genre A style of story. Various genres include: Action : A high energy, quick paced film that often includes fights, chase scenes and overt conflict. Examples: DIE HARD and LETHAL WEAPON. Adventure: A movie depicting exciting, unexpected and sometimes dangerous undertakings. Can include a romantic subplot. Examples: ROMANCING THE STONE and JURASSIC PARK Animation: A film that contains some or all cartoon (animated) sketches. Examples: FANTASIA and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. Biography: Film based on the true events of a living or deceased person's life. Examples: THE HURRICANE and ERIN BROKOVITCH. Comedy: A movie or story designed to make the audience laugh. Examples: DUMB & DUMBER and CADDYSHACK. Drama: A movie or story that focuses on conflict between characters. Examples: RAIN MAN and ORDINARY PEOPLE. Family: A movie or story appropriate for all ages that usually lacks sex, profanity and violence. Example: MARY POPPINS and MRS. DOUBTFIRE. Fantasy: A highly imaginative film that deals with characters, worlds or events beyond the realm of our reality. Examples: THE NEVER ENDING STORY and THE WIZARD OF OZ. Horror: A story designed to scare the audience, focusing on a villain who often kills or destroys people. Examples: HALLOWEEN and SCREAM. Musical: A film in which characters break into song and/or dance during the course of the story. Examples: ANNIE and GREASE. Period: A film set during a specific historical time period or era. Examples: DANGEROUS LIASONS and REMAINS OF THE DAY. Romance: A film focusing on the love story between two lead characters. Examples: SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and TITANIC. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi): A movie or story that focuses on people or elements that are uncommon, futuristic or not of this planet. Examples: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and INDEPENDENCE DAY. Teen: A film staring young actors and focusing on the issues or lives of young adults. Examples: SHE'S ALL THAT & 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU. Thriller: A movie or story that keeps its audience in suspense of the actions and motivations of the characters. Example: SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and WHAT LIES BENEATH. Heat The buzz and hype surrounding a piece of material, often created prior to it being sent to producers and studios. Housekeeping/Production Deal When producers, directors, actors and/or writers sign exclusively with one studio or network that covers their overhead. They must then produce all their projects with that studio or network for the duration of the deal. Inciting Incident An event that occurs early in a story, propelling the story into greater conflict. Life Rights The right given to a writer or producer to make a film from an actual person's life story. Location A place outside the studio soundstage where a film is shot. Log Line A one-line description of a story idea that creates interest in the project. If you read TV Guide most broadcasting is condensed into a log line. Manuscript Written material prepared for publication. Merchandising Rights Rights given to buyers allowing them to license, manufacture, distribute and sell merchandise based on characters, designs, names, likenesses or any other materials appearing in or used in connection with any part of your story. Motivation The protagonist's or hero's makeup which determines his goals and patterns of action. Niche Market Material is often tailored to the demand of a specific area or interest - its niche market. Notes Term used to describe the analysis of a story often given by professional readers or critics that details the story's strengths and weaknesses. Readers examine the plot, characters, dialogue, concept, structure, voice and rhythm, often suggesting improvements. Obstacle A dramatic hurdle our hero must overcome to accomplish his or her goal or mission. Open Writing Assignment A production company or studio will often hire a writer to rewrite an existing screenplay or script an idea, novel or true story that they own. Option Legal expression for a contract or deal between a writer and producer by which they agree to work together on a project and the producer acquires exclusive rights to the story for a period of time. Packaging The process of adding creative elements (actors, director, producer) to a project to make it more attractive to a studio or financier. Pilot A television episode produced as a sample to interest an exhibitor or sponsor in ordering additional episodes for a series based on the pilot. Pitch A term for a sales pitch during which a writer or producer meets with a studio executive to sell a story idea. Plot The storyline. The journey that the hero takes in order to attain his goal or the goal of the film. Plot Point A dramatic event that changes or alters the direction of the story. Premise The focus or moral of the film. Principal Photography The actual filming of a movie. Producer The person or company who takes overall responsibility for a movie from its initial idea to its final distribution at the movie theater. Production The period of time during which a movie is filmed. Property A piece of literary material such as a screenplay, treatment, book or idea that forms the basis for a film. Protagonist The hero or primary actor who drives the movie and story. The focus of the film. Reader Person hired to write "Coverage" on a story or screenplay. The reader relates to the producer or publisher what they believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of a story. Resolution The final act or scene in which the plot or conflict of the movie is concluded. Reveal The moment in a story or film when a previously hidden plot point or mystery is exposed to the audience. SAG Screen Actors Guild: the film and television actors union. Sample A piece of material (typically a script) written by an author and sent to an interested buyer as a representation of that author's skills. Scene The building block of a story or movie. Need moreÉ Spec Script Short for speculative scripts or scripts written without a commitment to be purchased. Thousands of spec scripts are written and produced into successful movies. LETHAL WEAPON was written on spec. Story By A credit that indicates a movie is based upon the idea of a person who did not (in most cases) write the screenplay. Studios Hollywood includes seven major film studios: Sony Pictures (formerly Columbia), MGM, Disney, Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox. These companies produce feature films, television series and television movies for networks and cable. Submission Sending your material to a buyer for consideration. Subplot A minor storyline or plot woven into the main story that is different than the primary goal. Synopsis A summary of a movie or story idea in 250 words or less. Treatment A 10-20 page account that describes a movie in detail. A treatment is often written in lieu of a full-length script after a pitch has been made. Twist An unexpected turn of events in the story. Voice Your voice will sell your idea. It is your style, your tone, the manner in which you express yourself. WGA Writers Guild of America: a writers union that protects their interests. WGA Agreement The document negotiated in 1995 between the WGA and signatory production groups.