What does the term "screenplay" refer to?

The term "screenplay" specifically refers to a script that includes both dialogue and directions for the film. It serves as the blueprint for the movie, detailing not only the spoken words of the characters but also essential descriptions of the actions, settings, and sequences that guide the production team during filming. The screenplay is fundamental in conveying the story, character development, and tone, allowing directors, actors, and crew members to understand how the film is intended to unfold visually and narratively.

In contrast, other choices such as a visual storyboard encompass a series of illustrations or images representing scenes, which is a tool used in the pre-production phase to plan visual storytelling rather than the narrative content itself. A movie's music score refers exclusively to the musical soundtrack accompanying the film, essential for adding emotional depth but unrelated to the screenplay's role in scriptwriting. A summary of a film's plot provides an overall view of the story but lacks the detailed structure and format characteristic of a screenplay.