SCRIPTWRITING - DEFINITION AND TYPES

“A screenplay is an exploration. It’s about the thing you don’t know. It’s a step into the abyss. It necessarily starts somewhere, anywhere; there is a starting point, but the rest is undetermined.”

— Charlie Kaufman

INTRODUCTION

It is Sunday evening. I am sitting in my bed with a cup of coffee in my left hand and the remote in my right. It is time for a movie! Sounds familiar?

This picture used to be quite common a few years back, now not so much. Now I am much more likely to get stuck in front of my mobile screen instead. 

Let's face it. We all love a good story. I listened to an audible book not o long ago about Passover and all the beautiful tidbits regarding it christians should know about (What Every Christian Needs to Know About Passover: What It Means and Why It Matters, Evan Moffic). The writer mentioned the importance of stories. Through them we humans bond with each other. And let us not forget people can even be healed, encouraged, comforted, enlightened, and awoken through them. Stories matter! 

But for a good story to be put on a screen effectively an equally amazing script must be written. The action of writing scripts is called scriptwriting. It is an art all on its own and requires a different set of skills and abilities. Let’s take a quick look into script writing and its different types. 

DEFINITION

Scriptwriting is the art of developing a written script or screenplay for various performance media such as a movie, television program, theater,  or video games. It entails building a narrative and developing characters, a plot, and a setting. It also includes scripting the language and action that will take place on stage or in a movie. (2)

Scriptwriting requires imagination, storytelling abilities, and knowledge about camera angles, lighting, sound design, and other technical aspects of production. A scriptwriter also needs thorough awareness of the target audience, the medium, and the genre when writing a script and the proper software that makes life easier. (2)

TYPES OF SCRIPTWRITING

Several media require a script. The most common among them are:

• Television shows and movies

• Radio broadcasts

• Commercials 

• Social media

• Documentaries

• Theatre plays

• Video games

Based on the media, format and intention of the script we can separate scriptwriting into several different types:

1. Screenplay: A screenplay is a script meant exclusively for a visual medium, such as film or television. It focuses on visual elements and often includes instructions about what the audience sees, such as character actions, locations and camera angles. (3)

Screenplays can be further divided into:

• Feature Film Screenplay: Full-length movie scripts (90–120 pages).

• Short Film Screenplay: Brief scripts (under 40 pages).

• Television Script:

  • Episodic Drama: Hour-long shows (e.g., Breaking Bad).

  • Sitcom: Half-hour comedic scripts (e.g., Friends).

  • Soap Opera: Ongoing serialized dramas.

• Spec script writing: Spec scripts focuses on an existing property that you don't have official rights to. They are useful for demonstrating writing ability or for trying to get hired for particular properties. (3)

2. Stage Play (Theatre)

A stage play is a story written to be performed in a theater. They include a character glossary (dramatis personae), setting and time, and outlined acts and scenes. Intermissions and act/scene-endings are also included as are stage directions, dialogue, and actions. (4)

We differentiate between the following stage plays. 

• Full-Length Play: Two or more acts, often 90+ minutes.

• One-Act Play: Shorter plays, typically under an hour.

• Musical Script (Libretto): Includes dialogue and lyrics.

3. Radio & Podcast Scripts

Radio scriptwriting is all about creating engaging content using only dialogue, sound effects (SFX), and music. They include: 

• Radio Drama: Audio-based storytelling with sound cues.

• Podcast Script: Used for narrative or interview-style podcasts.

4. Video Game Script

Video game writing is the art and craft of writing scripts and narratives for video games. (5) Among video game scripts we can find: 

• Linear Story: A straightforward story with a set beginning, middle, and end (e.g., The Last of Us).

• Branching Narrative: Multiple story paths based on player choices (e.g., Detroit: Become Human).

• Open-World/Quest-Based Script: Players explore freely, triggering different missions (e.g., The Witcher 3)

• Cutscene Script: Cinematic moments between gameplay (e.g., God of War).

• Dialogue & NPC Interaction Script: Character conversations and responses (e.g., RPGs like Mass Effect).

5. Commercial & Advertisement Script

Commercial scripts are either 60, 30, or 15-second long written scripts that voice actors read to create a voice over for a commercial/advertisement. We differentiantiate between three different types based on the media: 

• TV Commercials: Short scripts (15–60 seconds).

• Radio Ads: Scripts tailored for voice and sound effects.

• Social Media Ads: Short-form scripts for platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

6. Corporate & Educational Script

Corporate scriptwriting is used for training videos, presentations, advertisements, explainer videos, and internal communications.

• Corporate Training Videos: Scripts for instructional content.

• E-Learning Modules: Narrated educational content.

• Corporate Presentations: includes scripts of reports and speeches of executives or managers.

• Promotional & Explainer Videos: Short videos showcasing a company’s products, services, or values.

• Internal Communication Videos: it includes messages from leadership regarding company policies, achievements, or changes

• Corporate Event Hosting: Scripts for conferences, award ceremonies, and product launches and other corporate events. 

7. Documentary Script

A documentary script is a blueprint that guides narration, interviews, visuals, and sound design in a documentary. These are the 5 different documentary scripts we can find: 

• Expository – informs and educates audiences about specific topics by presenting facts, arguments, or explanations. (e.g., Planet Earth).

• Observational – Filmmakers observe and capture real-life events without interfering (e.g., Hoop Dreams). (6)

• Participatory – The filmmaker interacts with subjects (e.g., Super Size Me).

• Performative – incorporates the filmmaker’s personal perspective, experiences, or narrative journey as a central character. (e.g., Waltz with Bashir).

• Investigative – Explores mysteries, scandals, or history (e.g., Making a Murderer).

• Poetic: A poetic documentary film uses imagery, metaphors, and symbolism to explore themes lyrically and subjectively.

• Reflective: examine the filmmaker’s thoughts, feelings, and insights about subjects or experiences.

8. News & Talk Show Scripts

Scripts written for delivering information regarding current events, or certain subjects events, places, topics. 

• News Broadcast: Precise and factual delivery of news.

• Talk Show Script: Outlines segments and interviews.

9. Feature assignment writing: A feature story is a piece of longform non-fiction content that covers a single topic in detail. (7)

10. Commission writing: a writing commission is a piece of writing someone pays you to write. (8)

11. Rewriting and script doctoring: the process of rewriting an existing script or improving specific aspects of it, including structure, characterization, dialogue, pacing, themes, and other elements. Motley employed in film, television and theatre industries. (9)

12. Original script: Original scripts include those that you create from your own ideas. (3)

13. Adapted script: An adapted script re-imagines an existing story or narrative. (3)

14. Storyboard: a type of script that through writing and images conveys a story. (3)

15. Standalone script: a script for a franchise that contains the same characters, world and tone of an existing property.

16. Pitch script: a script designed for demonstrating your abilities to a producer or other professional in your industry. It involves properties you're already involved with or have the rights to. (3)

17. Shooting script: a collection of directions that helps a film or television program understand which scenes to shoot and in what order. (3)

    
    

CONCLUSION

Scriptwriting is the art of developing a written script or screenplay for various performance media such as a movie, television program, theater, or video games. A scriptwriter requires a wide variety of abilities and skills to create an amazing script. Different media require scripts, among them television, film, theatre, radio, advertising, and video games. Based on the media, format, and intention of the script there are different types of scripts out there, like original script, documentary script, video game script, screenplay, and stage play just to name a few.

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Until next time!