Screenplay terms

Here is a selection of terms used in a screenplay not already mentioned that will be useful. This is not a definitive list, but it should be enough to help produce our first draft.

Fade in: / Fade out: These are used at the beginning and end of the screenplay, mostly just to signify that - the start and finish - and are not necessarily camera instructions.
V.O. (Voice Over): Part of the dialogue that is not spoken by the character(s) on screen. This is usually narration or a way of vocalizing a character’s thoughts.
O.S. (Off Screen): Dialogue spoken by a character in the scene but not in the shot. It is different to V.O.
Both V.O. and O.S. Instructions appear in brackets immediately after the character’s name.
When writing the “action” part of the script, you may want to add some directorial suggestions for camera angles. These are to convey your vision to the director. If that is also you then they serve as reminders. Here are a list of standard terms.
Angle on: A shot of a character, setting or object in the scene. This is to bring attention to them in the shot.
Favouring: Similar to angle on, making the person, place or item the focus of the shot.
Another angle: Shooting from a different position.
Wider angle: Zooming back to show more of the character in the setting.
POV (Point of View): Showing a scene for a character’s perspective.
Reverse angle: used to change POV to that of the other person in a scene.
Over the shot shoulder shot (OTS): A variation on POV shot. If POV is first person then this is third person. It shows the character’s POV but includes them in the shot.
Moving shot: Where the camera follows the action. There is no need to specify whether it is a tracking shot, pan, dolly etc at the writing stage.
Close shot: Also called a close-up. surely this doesn’t need any more explanation,
Insert: A close up shot of an item that is inserted into the scene. In live action this would be shot separately and added at the editing stage.