Action Line
An Action Line (also known as scene description or scene action) is the part of a screenplay that describes what happens on screen. It's the text that tells readers what they would see if they were watching the movie or TV show. Writers use Action Lines to describe character movements, settings, and physical actions without including dialogue. It's like giving stage directions, but for film or television. This is different from dialogue or character names, which have their own special formatting in scripts.
Examples in Resumes
Refined Action Line descriptions to improve visual clarity in feature-length screenplays
Edited Scene Description formatting and content for TV pilot scripts
Mentored junior writers on effective Action Line writing techniques for streaming content
Typical job title: "Screenwriters"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Screenwriters
Online Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you approach writing action lines for complex sequences?
Expected Answer: A senior writer should discuss techniques for breaking down complicated scenes into clear, concise descriptions, emphasizing visual storytelling while maintaining script pacing and readability.
Q: How do you mentor junior writers in improving their action lines?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership experience by explaining how they teach others to write clear, engaging scene descriptions while maintaining industry standards and avoiding common mistakes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What makes an effective action line?
Expected Answer: Should explain how to write clear, visual descriptions that move the story forward while being concise and avoiding camera directions or technical jargon.
Q: How do you handle pacing through action lines?
Expected Answer: Should discuss how the length and structure of action lines can affect script pacing and demonstrate understanding of when to use detailed vs. brief descriptions.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the proper formatting for an action line?
Expected Answer: Should know basic screenplay formatting rules: action lines are in present tense, left-aligned, and describe only what can be seen or heard on screen.
Q: What should you avoid in action lines?
Expected Answer: Should mention avoiding camera directions, technical instructions, character thoughts, and overly flowery language that can't be filmed.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic screenplay formatting
- Writing clear visual descriptions
- Present tense writing
- Basic scene structure
Mid (2-5 years)
- Efficient scene descriptions
- Action sequence writing
- Script pacing through description
- Character movement description
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex sequence description
- Mentoring other writers
- Script doctoring
- Advanced visual storytelling
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to write in present tense
- Including camera directions in action lines
- Writing novelistic or overly detailed descriptions
- Lack of visual writing skills
Related Terms
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