Yes. Multicamera sitcom scripts have a different format than single-camera TV scrips, which have a slightly different format than film scripts. The best way to understand the differences is to study scripts of the different formats. The johnaugust.com library has feature script samples, while this TV writing resource has examples of both multicamera and single-camera […]
What is a “spec script?”
A “spec script” is a movie written on “speculation” — without a deal or sale already in place, and without being commissioned. A writer is not paid to write a spec. They do it on their own time with the hopes of selling it to a buyer, or to use as a writing sample. In […]
What do the different producer credits mean?
In film, producer credits are complex, and their meanings can vary wildly from film to film, or even from producer to producer on the same film. In 2004, John August wrote this blog post, which covers the topic in detail. In television, where bigger-picture writing is usually done collaboratively in the writers room, the writers […]
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 […]
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 […]