Scriptwriting Lingo
What is A-story, B-story or C-story?
Do you ever wonder what means what in screenwriting language? Below you will find all the most commonly used terms by screenwriters.
A-Story, B-Story, C-Story
The A-story is the core story, how the character, main protagonist seeks the goal. The B-story is the story, which runs parallel and intersects at crucial points with the A-story; often the B-story is the “love” story. The C-story (more common in TV) is like another B-Story, just smaller and less critical.
Act Break, Break Into 2, Break Into 3
The end of each Act is known as a “break” because in TV this is typically when we cut to a commercial break. To maintain the viewer’s curiosity, the act break should be surprising and essential. In the film, what defines the break, is when the hero decides to pursue the goal of the A-story.
The film is typically a 3-Act structure, and the end of Act-3 is usually the climax of the story. On TV a 4-Act structure is more common.
Beat
A beat can be a unit of story information, a moment in a scene, or a slightly longer than usual pause. In the context of the script, a beat often means a decision or a discovery made by the character.
