Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

action-line

Noun
/ˈakʃən laɪn/
Definition
A term used to describe a critical component in a script, showing the actions that characters will take during a scene.
Examples
  • In the screenplay, the action-line detailed how the protagonist ran through the forest to escape danger.
  • The director emphasized the action-line to ensure the actors understood the urgent pacing needed for the scene.
Meaning
Action-line refers to the narrative descriptions in a screenplay that indicate what is happening physically in the story, often involving the movements of the characters and significant environmental changes.
Synonyms
  • Stage direction
  • Action description
  • Script directive