The Difference Between Script and Screenplay (History & Examples)

Published: January 19, 2021 | Last Updated: December 5, 2024

The origin of screenplays as we know them today

The word “screenplay” originated around the 1940s, but its origins and source are notoriously hard to track down—at least, according to most film historians.

The screenplay and its format emerged from practical and technical business decisions. Essentially, as the popularity of “movers” grew from a novelty sideshow to their art form, the producers of these productions had to evolve their scripts from simple one-paragraph summaries of what happened, referred to as “scenarios,” to something more similar to the screenplays of today by incorporating what’s known as “master scene” formatting. 

The blog Screenplayology provides a great summary of literary sources that trace back the term’s etymology and the format’s popularity. It tracks the transition from these scenario scripts into camera-direction-heavy “continuity scripts” as productions got more complicated, eventually developing the “master scene” format we now know.

Examples of the difference between a scenario, continuity, and master scene script

Let’s quickly examine the difference between a scenario, continuity, and a master scene script.

The Scenario Script Format

Take a look at this excerpt from the scenario script for Georges Melies’s A Trip to the Moon – which film school students will recognize right away, non-film school students might recognize from Martin Scorsese’s 2012 film Hugo, and an early inspiration for steampunk, written by Georges Melies: 

1. The Scientific Congress at the Astronomic Club.
2. Planning the Trip. Appointing the Explorers and Servants. Farewell.
3. The Workshops. Constructing the Projectile.
4. The Foundries. The Chimney-stack. The Casting of the Monster Gun/Cannon.
5. The Astronomers-Scientists Enter the Shell.

Check out how these first five “scenes” from Melies’ script translated to the actual film, shared here by Youtube-channel Open Culture:

The Continuity Script Format

Now, compare the above scenario script to this excerpt from this continuity script for the famous “original narrative film”, The Great Train Robbery, adapted by the director Edwin S. Porter from the play written by Scott Marble:

Even though it’s essentially just a summary of what happens, notice how The Great Train Robbery’s script looks a lot more like what we know as screenplay format today? 

In a more traditional continuity script format, more camera direction would dictate exactly what is shown. That’s because the continuity script format was developed and popularized by the producer Thomas Harper Ince to streamline the production process in the early 1900s when producers were primarily in charge. 

That said, if you want to compare how the script for The Great Train Robbery plays out in the actual film itself, check it below, shared here thanks to Youtuber Old FIlms and Stuff:  

The Master Scene Script Format

The master scene format divides the screenplay into scenes separated by location, something that’s a staple of modern screenplays and screenwriting today:

[…] whereas the continuity script had evolved to ensure visual continuity and fidelity to a pre-approved budget — the primary concerns of a central producer — the master scene script evolves to ensure readability, serving the needs of the independent producer who must shop his or her script as a property to be financed” 

Source: Screenplayology

Now look at this excerpt from a modern day script that follows the modern “master scene” format that all screenplays fall into:

As you can see, in this example, the location of the scene is at the top of the description in what’s called a slugline, with accompanying action and dialogue folded underneath.

Read more on how to screenplay format the right way.

The Three Different Types of Scripts

The three main type scripts are screenplays, stage plays, and teleplays. 

A stage play is a script for the stage, while a screenplay could be for a film, video game, or television episode. And while a screenplay can be for a film or a TV episode, a teleplay is exclusively for television.

While the difference between a screenplay and a teleplay can be kind of confusing, it’s useful to note that teleplay was a term invented in the 1950’s to help distinguish a script from a screenplay and a stage play, and is mostly used today as a technical definition by the Writers Guild of America to separate the writing credits on a TV script for payment purposes.

Did you know?: The Writer’s Guild of America will separate an episode’s “story by” alongside its “teleplay by” to account for differences in who wrote the script and who gets credit for the story. This will ensure that both are paid and credited as necessary. Sometimes, it’s the same person!

What does a screenplay for a video game look like?  

While most video games do not have traditional scripts that look anything like a screenplay as written above, some of the more high profile, cinematically-styled games will follow a screenplay model of sorts that scripts out the main storyline, or certain cutscenes, as if it were a movie.

For an example of what one of the highest-profile video game scripts looks like, check out this example from The Last of Us, as shared here. For games that don’t follow this type of screenplay format, you would create something more like a flowchart or spreadsheet with all your various plot narratives and dialogue trees, created in a similar format to this one shared by writer Yun Cheng Hsin.  

What are the elements of a script?

Every script, regardless of whether it’s a screenplay, teleplay, or stage play have the same basic elements. To be considered a script, the written document must include: 

• Scene setting: the location where this is all taking place.
• Action: what’s physically happening on screen or stage. 
• Dialogue: what’s being said.  
• Character headings: who is saying it. 

How much direction do you put in the script?

In the old days of continuity and scenario scripts, all that would be described would be camera angles or action. 

In the case of modern screenplay format, however, you try to avoid writing camera descriptions if at all possible. 

For instance, if you want to indicate that a close-up on a specific object, like a lamp, could be useful, instead of writing “the camera pushes in on the lamp” you would write “Close on: an ornate lamp” or “He notices the lamp – a relic from another time, and out of place.” 

Closing Thoughts 

If you want to write your own script, or more specifically, your own screenplay for movies or television, you will need a screenwriting program to help you format it correctly (there are free options as well). From there, it’s all about learning the craft!

For more on how to write screenplays, or more specifically, a screenplay that works, check out our article on the subject here. If you have more questions about scripts and screenplays, reach out in the comments.

Up Next: The Screenwriter’s Toolkit of Literary Concepts