This is called a “brad” or a “brass brad.” Screenplays are traditionally presented on three-hole paper, but with only two brads: one in the top hole, and one in the bottom, as seen here. More from johnaugust.com Of course grammar matters How to write on the spine of a script How do you read a […]
How many acts does a TV show have?
As of 2011, the typical hour-long drama has an open, plus six acts. This is up from just a few years ago, where the norm was four acts. Half-hour multicamera comedies typically have an open, two acts, and a tag, while single-camera half-hour comedies can have either two or three acts sandwiched between the open […]
How long is a short film?
There is no official consensus or definition for the length of a “short.” Any film shorter than 50 minutes qualifies as a short film for the Sundance Film Festival, while any film with a run-time under 40 minutes is eligible for the shorts categories at the Academy Awards. The longest of the ten movies nominated […]
What is a feature film?
A feature film (or just “feature”) is a full-length film, the kind you buy a ticket for at your local theater. The term is also used to distinguish between films that are first shown theatrically versus those made for television. A modern feature is typically between 80 and 180 minutes long, but different groups have […]
How many acts does a movie have?
A typical movie is said to have three acts, but this is not a steadfast rule. Film acts are not defined as strictly as play or TV show acts, which are set off with act breaks. The johnaugust.com glossary explains that “Since screenplays never show act breaks, an ‘act’ is really a theoretical concept. Screenwriters […]
What is the difference between a script, a screenplay, and a teleplay?
“Script” is the most general of the three terms, and is not reserved for any specific type of media. “Screenplay” specifically refers to the script of a film or television program. “Teleplay” is even more specific, and is only used when referencing television scripts. So a teleplay is a type of screenplay which is a […]