What is the purpose of stage directions in a script?

• A. To provide instructions for actions, camera angles, and sound effects during production
• B. To set the budget
• C. To format the page
• D. To measure duration

Answer: (A)

Stage directions describe what characters do, how they move, when they enter and exit, and the cues for visuals and sound. They guide blocking, timing, and the technical aspects of a scene, including camera angles, lighting, and sound effects, so the production team knows exactly how the scene should be presented. This makes stage directions best suited to instruct actions and technical cues during production, helping everyone coordinate what appears on stage or screen. Budgets, formatting the page, and measuring duration are handled by other parts of the production process or by separate considerations, not by the stage directions themselves.