Acts, sequences & episode architecture · Working
Prologue
Also called: opening preface
ELI5
An opening section set before or outside the main story that provides framing or essential context.
Used in conversation
“The prologue needs to land without a long explanation.”
Definition
An opening section set before or outside the main narrative that provides framing or essential context.
Here “Prologue” means: An opening section set before or outside the main narrative that provides framing or essential context.
Pitch context
Use this when explaining how the story works on the page or across the finished screen experience.
Why it matters: Helps describe how a story works on the page and how its dramatic parts fit together.
Sources & evidence · 6
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Screen Australia — Story Documents: DramaDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Scriptnotes / John August — Pitching Television, or Being a Passionate WidgetDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — No Writing Left BehindDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Screen Australia — What is a Synopsis? An Outline? A Treatment?Supporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- pitch.dog — Pitch Dictionary Deep Research SynthesisSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14