Screenplay vs. Story — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 8, 2024
A screenplay is a script for a film, detailing dialogue and actions, while a story is a narrative in any form or medium, describing events and characters.
Difference Between Screenplay and Story
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A screenplay, specifically designed for visual storytelling in film or television, includes directions for actors, camera angles, and scene transitions. A story, however, is the broader term for any narrative, encompassing novels, oral tales, and more, focusing on plot, characters, and settings without specific technical instructions.
While a screenplay is formatted in a structured manner with distinct elements like scenes, actions, and dialogues, a story can be told in various formats, including prose, poetry, or spoken word, with more flexibility in presentation and structure.
Screenplays are often written with the intention of being produced as films, requiring collaboration with directors, actors, and crew to bring the narrative to life. Stories, on the other hand, can stand alone as written or oral narratives, enjoyed without the need for visual adaptation.
The language in a screenplay is concise, focusing on what can be seen and heard; it guides the production team in creating visual scenes. In contrast, stories often include detailed descriptions, internal thoughts, and background information to enhance the reader's imagination.
A screenplay’s success is largely measured by its adaptation into a film or television show and its reception by audiences and critics. A story's success, however, can be gauged by its ability to engage readers, its thematic depth, and its impact on culture or individuals.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To guide the production of a film or TV show
To narrate events, characters, and settings
Format
Structured with scenes, dialogue, and directions
Flexible, including prose, poetry, oral
Medium
Intended for visual medium (film, TV)
Any medium, including written and spoken
Language
Concise, visual, auditory cues
Descriptive, can include internal thoughts
Measure of Success
Adaptation into film/TV, audience reception
Reader engagement, thematic depth, cultural impact
Compare with Definitions
Screenplay
A script for a movie or television show, including dialogue and action directions.
She wrote a screenplay that got picked up by a major studio.
Story
A recounting of a sequence of events, whether real or imagined.
The novel tells the story of two friends separated by war.
Screenplay
The written form of a film, outlining scenes and character interactions.
The screenplay for the movie won several awards.
Story
An account of past events in someone's life or in the evolution of something.
The documentary tells the story of the civil rights movement.
Screenplay
A detailed guide for filmmakers, specifying visual and audio elements.
The director praised the screenplay for its clear vision.
Story
The plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc.
The story unfolded in a way that captivated all the readers.
Screenplay
A structured format that describes the sequence of a story visually.
Adapting a novel into a screenplay requires significant changes.
Story
A narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader.
Her grandmother told her a story from her childhood.
Screenplay
The blueprint for a film, detailing every aspect of the story.
He studied the screenplay to prepare for his role.
Story
A piece of fiction or an anecdote used to convey a message or teach a lesson.
The fable is a short story that teaches a moral lesson.
Screenplay
A screenplay, or script, is a written work by screenwriters for a film, television program, or video game. These screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing.
Story
An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
I'm going to tell you a story
An adventure story
Screenplay
The script for a movie, including descriptions of scenes and some camera directions.
Story
An account of past events in someone's life or in the development of something
The film is based on a true story
The story of modern farming
Screenplay
A script for a movie or a television show.
Story
The commercial prospects or circumstances of a particular company
The investors' flight to profitable businesses with solid stories
Screenplay
To write a screenplay.
Story
Variant spelling of storey
Screenplay
A script for a film including dialogue and descriptions of characters and sets
Story
An account or report regarding the facts of an event or group of events
The witness changed her story under questioning.
Story
An anecdote
Came back from the trip with some good stories.
Story
A lie
Told us a story about the dog eating the cookies.
Story
A usually fictional prose or verse narrative intended to interest or amuse the hearer or reader; a tale.
Story
A short story.
Story
The plot of a narrative or dramatic work.
Story
A news article or broadcast.
Story
Something viewed as or providing material for a literary or journalistic treatment
"He was colorful, he was charismatic, he was controversial, he was a good story" (Terry Ann Knopf).
Story
The background information regarding something
What's the story on these unpaid bills?.
Story
Romantic legend or tradition
A hero known to us in story.
Story
A complete horizontal division of a building, constituting the area between two adjacent floors.
Story
The set of rooms on the same floor of a building.
Story
To decorate with scenes representing historical or legendary events.
Story
(Archaic) To tell as a story.
Story
An account of real or fictional events.
The book tells the story of two roommates.
Story
A lie, fiction.
You’ve been telling stories again, haven’t you?
Story
A soap opera.
What will she do without being able to watch her stories?
Story
(obsolete) History.
Story
A sequence of events, or a situation, such as might be related in an account.
What's the story with him?
I tried it again; same story, no error message, nothing happened.
Story
A chronological collection of pictures or short videos published by a user on an application or website that is typically only available for a short period.
Story
(computing) user story
Story
To tell as a story; to relate or narrate about.
Story
A set of rooms on the same floor or level; a floor, or the space between two floors. Also, a horizontal division of a building's exterior considered architecturally, which need not correspond exactly with the stories within.
Story
A narration or recital of that which has occurred; a description of past events; a history; a statement; a record.
One malcontent who did indeed get a name in story.
Venice, with its unique city and its Impressive story.
The four great monarchies make the subject of ancient story.
Story
The relation of an incident or minor event; a short narrative; a tale; especially, a fictitious narrative less elaborate than a novel; a short romance.
Story
A euphemism or child's word for "a lie;" a fib; as, to tell a story.
Story
To tell in historical relation; to make the subject of a story; to narrate or describe in story.
How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.
It is storied of the brazen colossus in Rhodes, that it was seventy cubits high.
Story
A message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program;
His narrative was interesting
Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children
Story
A piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events;
He writes stories for the magazines
Story
Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;
What level is the office on?
Story
A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead
Story
A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious
Story
A trivial lie;
He told a fib about eating his spinach
How can I stop my child from telling stories?
Common Curiosities
Do stories have to be written down?
Stories can be written, spoken, or even thought, making them more versatile in how they are shared and experienced.
What is a screenplay?
A screenplay is a written script for a movie or television show, detailing dialogue, actions, and directions for the production.
What defines a story?
A story is a narrative that describes events and characters, aiming to entertain, inform, or teach, and can be presented in various formats.
Can a story be turned into a screenplay?
Yes, many screenplays are adaptations of stories from books, true events, or other sources, transformed to fit the visual medium of film or TV.
What role does the audience play in the success of a screenplay or story?
Audience reception is key; for screenplays, it's about the visual and emotional impact, while for stories, it's about engagement and resonance with the narrative.
What is the primary goal of a screenplay?
The primary goal is to serve as the foundation for producing a film or TV show, guiding the visual storytelling process.
Can screenplays include elements of a story?
Yes, screenplays incorporate narrative elements like plot, character, and setting, but within a format suited for visual media.
How do screenplays and stories differ in format?
Screenplays have a structured format with scenes and directions for visual storytelling, while stories can be told in prose, poetry, or orally, with more flexibility.
Is a screenplay always produced into a film?
Not all screenplays are produced; the process depends on factors like funding, interest from producers, and market trends.
How important is dialogue in a screenplay compared to a story?
Dialogue is crucial in screenplays for conveying character and advancing the plot visually and audibly, whereas stories may rely more on narration and description.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
