• Wondering which camera, gear, computer, or software to buy? Ask in our Gear Guide.

format Two formatting questions...

V

victortiti89

1)I'm using a screenwriting software that makes slug lines like this:
INT- STREET - DAY
On a screenwriting review site, some people critiqued the format, while others didn't seem to mind. Is this formatting ok? If not, why does the software I'm using generates it? How can I change this without losing the screenplays?
2)I've noticed on a few screenplays I wrote that I used exclusively one line directions. On the same review site, some people critiqued this, while others appreciated this. Is this writing style wrong?
Thank you for taking the time to read and answer this!:)
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
INT- STREET - DAY
Click to expand...

Is fine. I prefer an extra space after INT, but that's semantics. It's the same format that I use. Everyone understands it. It is there to provide the appropriate departments information needed to do their work. Without it, it creates more unnecessary work.

I've noticed on a few screenplays I wrote that I used exclusively one line directions. On the same review site, some people critiqued this, while others appreciated this. Is this writing style wrong?
Click to expand...

It's right and wrong depending on the situation. It takes a bit of practice to get the tempo/pace of a script correct and on top of that, you still need to approximate the 1 minute to 1 page. This means sometimes you have to be brief, while still giving a lot of information, and others, you need to be more verbose to simulate a slow down in time.

Not everyone uses these methods either. I'm happy for it to be verbose and clearer to the cast/crew than to worry about the 1 page per min. Brevity (getting to the point fast) also has a lot of value.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
What software is it you are using?

Presumably the software is formatting the slug line for you. You may not have the option to change that anyway.

Having said that, I can't think of a screenplay I've read where the slug line isn't formatted as:

Code: 
EXT. STREET - DAY

Note the (dot) after EXT, as opposed to a (dash). That's how Celtx formats them, that's fine.


As far as action is concerned, you wouldn't want to be separating everything on to individual lines. If a few of these individual lines are directly related to each other, they can be lumped together. For example:

Code: 
MARTIN opens the fridge door.

Martin removes the milk from the fridge.

...would be much better as...

Code: 
 Martin opens the fridge door, removes the milk.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The dots vs. dashes is a nitpicky issue to have a legit grievance over.

However, the overwheming majority screenwriting programs and submissons use a period after EXT/INT and not a dash. A curious programming choice of ScriptMaker.

Action lines do not have to be a single line or sentence.
They ought not be monolithic slabs of a quarter page of descriptions without break.
For God's sakes at least learn how to use the [expletive] return button!

The generally accepted "rule", to which you will find plenty of anecdotal exceptions to, is to keep descriptions to less than four lines - line break - then the next action description block of less than four lines.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
I can't find an official website...?

But what I can see from mirror sites, doesn't look particularly good. Perhaps you should consider switching to Celtx. It looks more intuitive than ScriptMaker (not that I've used ScriptMaker; it may be very good) and it has great support, updates, etc.

As for the format, it doesn't look like a huge issue, but a (dot) after INT/EXT instead of a (dash) is all I've ever known. A (dash) may well be considered perfectly acceptable.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hey, guys... I'm writing the second episode of my series, a straight continue to the pilot, we pick up just from the last scene of the latter. What do I write on scene heading? CONTINUOUS???
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Egidio said:
Hey, guys... I'm writing the second episode of my series, a straight continue to the pilot, we pick up just from the last scene of the latter. What do I write on scene heading? CONTINUOUS???
Click to expand...

I would say that as it's a different script altogether, there's nothing for it to continue from. I'm probably wrong on that, though :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Using software that makes a dash instead of a period will tip off that you are not using the professional industry standard software which might give the reader a bias against you. It's stupid, but just the way it is. I would recommend changing them by turning them into Actions (which you can edit) instead of Scene Headings (which you can't).

Or maybe by saving the whole script as a PDF, then using a PDF editor to alter it, if possible.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'd like to piggyback on this question. I will be coming to the end of my latest revision of my feature screenplay. My slug lines are formatted as such:

INT. CLASSROOM DAY

instead of

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

At first I didn't think it was that big of a deal but now it's starting to bug me. Actually, this is my first time using the spaces instead of dashes. All my shorts were written the traditional way. I think I saw the spaces in a book and thought it looked so clean and neat I just had to try it and now it's starting stand out to me.

Does anyone else here use spaces? Seen it before? Thinks it looks odd?

Itching for a reason to go back through and change all the slug lines but then again I'm probably just looking at this same script for too long.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
INT. CLASSROOM - TOWN HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Is proper.

INT., EXT., or INT./EXT. followed by scene location, location of location, and lastly lighting-- DAY, NIGHT, NEON LIGHT, whatever.

INT- is incorrect, and not to be confused with professional Screenwriting.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Birdman said:
Well, from what I understand as long as you are 100% consistent in your format ...then it should be fine. Seems like some people have personal opinions regarding it when reviewing scripts, though. ...I'm sticking with the dot just out of fear.
Click to expand...

It's just what I use. That being said, I'm not going to go through the process of redoing it if I get a script that is already that way. It's just a piece of formatting. It's not like the difference between a "." "," ";" "-" or whatever is used will change the meaning or have people completely misunderstand.

I'm not advocating anyone using it. Not saying it's right. It's what I use and what I prefer to see.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
FWIW, I bold my slugs to make them easier to discern when scanning across multiple pages, especially for editing.

It's considered just barely tolerable by ye olde guarde, but the neuvo readers don't seem to mind.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top