What does act 1, act 2 etc mean on a movie sctipt?

Question

also what does all the other little bits of jargon mean

cheers

Answer 1

Most film scripts do not use acts but rather break everything down into scenes. If a film script uses acts it usually means that the screenwriter is intentionally separating groups of scenes into sections that should considered for their separate message or major action.

Many people consider Acts in theatre as a breakdown as to where intermissions should take place. This is not really what they mean, but rather that some significant action or "ACT" takes place in the series of scenes which make up the Act.

Answer 2

I think that, when people talk about the "acts" in a screenplay, they're basically referring to the sequence of the incidents that move the plot along. Certain exposition needs to occur early on ("act 1") whereas other events occur further in.

Answer 3

drama guy is right pretty much acts cut down scenes into smaller parts