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What's After the Movie?

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What's After the Movie?
Storytelling Story structure, screenwriting craft and the devices that drive a plot.

Original Screenplay: Meaning & Definition in Film

A film script based on wholly original ideas and storylines, not derived from existing works.

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Original Screenplay: Creative Foundations

Original screenplays arise from the writer’s imagination, presenting unique worlds, characters, and conflicts. Free from source-material constraints, writers explore novel themes and narrative structures. This originality often sparks innovative cinematic techniques and fresh genre blends.

Original Screenplay: Development Process

Writers develop original screenplays through treatments, outlines, and multiple drafts. Collaborations with producers and directors refine story focus while preserving the script’s core essence. Early pitches and concept art may accompany the draft to convey tone and visual style.

Awards and Recognition

Original screenplays receive dedicated accolades—such as the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay—celebrating narrative ingenuity. Winners like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Get Out showcase how original writing can redefine genre expectations and cultural conversations.

Original Screenplay: Industry Role

Studios include original screenplays in their slates to diversify offerings and nurture emerging talent. Successful originals can spawn franchises, merchandise, and expanded universes, demonstrating the commercial and creative value of fresh ideas in cinema.

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More Storytelling & Screenwriting Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as Original Screenplay, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 293 terms

  • Laying Pipe

    'Laying pipe' is a screenwriting term for the part of a story, usually in the first act, where the writer must deliver the necessary exposition and backstory.

  • Documentary film

    A documentary film is a non-fiction motion picture that presents factual information about real events, people, or phenomena.

  • Post-Credits Scene

    A short sequence that appears after a film’s end credits to reward attentive viewers.

  • Match on Action

    Match on action is an editing technique that cuts between two shots where the action continues seamlessly, creating visual continuity.

  • Beat Change

    A beat change is the specific moment of transition within a scene where the emotional dynamic or the balance of power between characters is altered.

  • Character Purpose

    Character purpose is the specific narrative function a character serves within a story, such as driving the plot, embodying a theme, or influencing the protagonist's journey.