A screenplay is the written script for a movie or television show. It includes all the dialogue the actors will speak, descriptions of what happens in each scene, and instructions about settings and camera work. Think of it as the blueprint that directors, actors, and crew members follow to create what you see on screen.

When a screenwriter writes a screenplay, they write conversations and describe the action: A detective enters a dim warehouse, footsteps echoing on concrete. They note important details: She spots a red envelope on a dusty table. They format dialogue so actors know exactly what to say and when to say it.

Screenplays look different from regular stories or plays. They use specific formatting rules, like putting character names in capital letters above their dialogue and describing scenes in the present tense. A finished screenplay typically runs about 90 to 120 pages, with each page representing roughly one minute of screen time.

Many famous movies started as screenplays that took years to write and rewrite. The screenwriter must imagine how every scene will look and sound, even though they won't be the ones filming it. Their words on the page guide everyone else in transforming the story into the movie you eventually watch while eating popcorn in a theater or on your couch at home.