Chapter 4 - Script Elements

Chapter 4 - Script Elements

These are the unique margin, case, and position attributes that give feature film script text the format and consistency expected by all participants. Once you are accustomed to them you'll be able to tell your story the way an industry reader is accustomed to seeing it. The elements for a script are:

•           Scene Heading

•           Action

•           Character Name

•           Dialogue

•           Parenthetical

•           Extensions

•           Transition

•           Shot

Scene Heading

Writing Tip:

Scene Heading are aligned flush left (which we learned is about 1.5" from the edge of the paper) and are rarely long enough to reach the page margin.

The Scene Heading is written in ALL CAPS. Use a period after the INT. or EXT., a hyphen between the other elements of the Slugline.

The Scene Heading, sometimes called Slugline, tells the reader of the script where the scene takes place. Are we indoors (INT.) or outdoors (EXT.)? Next name the location: BEDROOM, LIVING ROOM, at the BASEBALL FIELD, inside a CAR? And lastly it might include the time of day - NIGHT, DAY, DUSK, DAWN... information to "set the scene" in the reader's mind.

The Slugline can also include production information like CONTINUOUS ACTION, or ESTABLISHING SHOT or STOCK SHOT. Here are examples of Scene Headings:

INT. BEDROOM - MORNING

EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP - SUNSET

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS ACTION

EXT. KEY WEST MARINA - DAWN - ESTABLISHING

EXT. PASADENA - ROSE PARADE - STOCK FOOTAGE

Software Tip:

Script writing software will automatically file each new Scene Heading you use. This alleviates the need to retype the same text again and again, and it also helps you keep your script consistent. There is nothing more distracting to the reader than to see one Scene Heading read:

EXT. - OUTER SPACE RAIN FOREST - NIGHT

and two pages later:

EXT. - OUTER SPACE JUNGLE - NIGHT

Keeping Scene Headings consistent allows your reader to recognize locations and places and not have to figure out if this is a new set (location). You don't want to take the reader's mind off your story, ever.

Here is a sample in Scene Heading sample in script form:

FADE IN:

EXT. KEY WEST MARINA - DAWN - ESTABLISHING

We have 'established' that we're in a marina at dawn.