teleplay

American  

[tel-uh-pley] / ˈtɛl əˌpleɪ /

noun

1. a play written or adapted for broadcast on television.

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Etymology

Origin of teleplay

First recorded in 1950–55; tele(vision) + play

Explanation

The script for a TV show, including camera directions and dialog, is called a teleplay. Before the cameras can start rolling, writers need to try and come up with a great teleplay. Most television shows and TV movies have a whole team of writers, and in many cases only some of them work on the teleplay. Writing credits are often split between the story (the basic themes and plot) and the teleplay, which includes the actual lines of dialog and camera set-ups. In the earliest days of TV, teleplay meant "radio play written for television."

Example Sentences

He also was credited for writing the teleplay to Arthur Miller’s play “The American Clock” in 1993.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2023

His predecessor, Daniel Schorr, had been denied readmission to the country two years earlier after the Soviets took umbrage at CBS airing a “Playhouse 90” teleplay titled “The Plot to Kill Stalin.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 15, 2021

“We were like, ‘This is such a baller way to start your show,’” says Leslye Headland, who wrote the teleplay and story; Lyonne and Amy Poehler also are nominated for story.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2019

His 1980 BBC teleplay, “The Imitation Game,” set in Britain during the Second World War, features a young reservist named Cathy.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 15, 2019

A framing device — set in 1975 — at the start and end of the film was added by Jessica Sharzer, who wrote the teleplay, to explain why the characters are now singing.

From New York Times • May 22, 2017