




Screenplays are scripts written specifically to be produced for a visual medium, such as film or television. For the most part, screenplays are fictional in nature and designed to tell a story. Screenplays typically include a variety of information including setting, dialogue, camera instructions and may include editing instructions. It should be noted that most screenplays are not produced as written.
Plays are productions that occur live, on a physical stage rather than the metaphoric stage of film or television. Like a screenplay, a play script includes dialogue and directions.
Scripts for audio dramas share a number of components with screenplays and the scripts for stage plays, often sharing terminology. There tends to much more extensive use of the so-called narrator to provide third person perspective than in other fictional scripts. The dialogue is also different in that it includes more descriptive language about the surroundings to help establish setting. Instructions lean toward the necessary audio components that need to accompany a given scene and may also give direction to the voice actor about how a line should be delivered.
While appearing natural on screen, most news anchors are provided with scripts to read via teleprompters. News scripts tend to be bare-bones affairs that provide informational content. The components of the script the anchors do not read aloud generally include directions for the production staff about when to run a clip or to cut to a live anchor in the field.
Other types of scriptwriting include producing story/dialogue for video games, education films, online content such as podcasts or marketing materials and even commercials. These scripts tend to follow the same general patterns as plays, audio dramas and screenplays.