Slug Lines: How They Shape Our Vision
February 8th, 2010
One of the most difficult aspects of screenplay formatting is the slug line. These little guys are so important because they set the scene and tone. They tell us where the scene takes place and what time frame. In this posting, we’ll be discussing what information and format capitalization/punctuation is used and required in slug lines and why.
INT./EXT.
First, we have to decide if the scene takes place inside (interior) or outside (exterior). This all depends on your story. If you have the scene in the desert, use exterior. If you have the scene in a house, use interior.
Now let’s say you have a scene at an amusement park. After the establishing exterior scene[i], the next scenes take place inside the amusement park and are still considered exterior because they are all outside as well.
WHERE – LOCATION
Secondly, we have to show the reader where the scene is taking place. This can be a “HOUSE”, a “BARN”, a “HIGHWAY”, or where ever you place your scene. Depending on the context of the story, a location gives clues to the reader and audience as to what they can expect.
There will be times when an additional location is necessary. Let’s say we have a scene in the kitchen of a house. We could use “KITCHEN” as a secondary location. When having a secondary location, use a hyphen between the two to distinguish.
WHEN – TIME FRAME
Thirdly, we have to decide the time frame of the scene. If it’s morning, type “MORNING”. A number of other examples are: NIGHT, DAY, DUSK, DAWN.
A lot of times, the scene is continuous from the previous scene. It is unnecessary to show the time frame and unnecessary to type “CONTINUOUS”. Using “CONTINUOUS” in the slug line is distracting to the reader as we assume the next scene follows right after the last scene.
What about when the next scene is later in the day but takes place at the same location? Then type “LATER”. Remember, though, that “LATER” implies that several hours have passed. If only a brief amount of time has passed, for example ten to thirty minutes, then use “MOMENTS LATER”.
CAPITALIZATION AND PUNCTUATION
A slug line is ALWAYS capitalized. For punctuation: abbreviate the interior or exterior with a period, space, location, space, hyphen, space and time frame.
EXAMPLE
Now let’s discuss the following example. The first slug line will be incorrect and the second will show the correct way.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE DECK OF A CRUISE SHIP. MIDDAY
The above slug line is incorrect. There are way too many words making the setting complicated to understand as a script reader or producer. The word “outside” is already assumed in “Ext” and is unnecessary. Words like “the and “of a” are also unnecessary and clutter the slug line. The punctuation is also wrong.
The correct slug line is:
EXT. CRUISE SHIP – DECK – MIDDAY
Think of slug lines like layers. First, is it inside or outside? Where is the main location? Is there a secondary location? And what time of day is it? All these questions are answered in the above slug line in a brief and simple manner. That is exactly what is wanted.
Can you tell a difference between the two? Does it make sense?
The key with slug lines and also with screenwriting is that you must SHOW the story. With other creative writing, the writer “tells” the story but as a writer for the screen, we must SHOW. Think visually and give the reader and audience one word they can SEE mentally. This will create a more engaged reader and move the screenplay pacing to an exciting page-turner.
Slug lines are vital to setting the scenes within your screenplay. Understanding and mastering them will create a visually stunning film.
[i] An establishing scene is used to explain the setting of the following scene. It is a master scene showing us where the following scene will take place.
Filed under: format, screenwriting
March 9th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts. I found http://www.screenplaygenius.com to be extremely interesting. I will be coming back to http://www.screenplaygenius.com for more information.