To write dialogue, start with an element called a character cue. As much as the silent thing is really working for him, it’s probably a good idea to have him speak. Give them a little description as well, but don’t make the newbie mistake of trying to cast your main character. When introducing a major character (and by “major” it’s generally meant “one with a speaking part”), put his or her name in all caps, but only the first time. Into the bar strides PROTAGONIST, mid-30s, a man so built like a semi he probably farts diesel exhaust. For the sake of simplicity, let’s say you’re introducing your Protagonist. Okay, it’s about time to introduce your first character.
#Slugline example movie#
You don’t want to intimidate Head Hancho over at Hollywood Movie Production Conglomerate with a big page of text, do you? Keep breaking them up, in logical areas where the camera would naturally cut, to keep the page nice and digestible. Each paragraph should be no longer than five lines. Set up the scene, but don’t blabber on too long. Remember to always write in present tense-the flashbacks will be in present tense, the flashforwards will be in present tense… even the weird, parallel universe created when your protagonist fell into a temporal rift will be in present tense. We’re on an action/description line now, so you can go ahead and turn off caps lock. Usually it’s as simple as DAY or NIGHT, but more specific times can be written if they are relevant to your story. The last piece of the slugline is the time. The second part where the scene takes place be sure to keep this location consistent if your characters ever go back. Rarely can you write both ( INT./EXT.), but it has been done. The first is either interior ( INT) or exterior ( EXT), indicating if the scene takes place inside or outside. Screenplay line spacingĭouble space, staying left justified at 1.5 inches, and we’ll hit our first required element: the Master Scene Heading (don’t let off caps lock just yet.)Īlso known as the slugline or master slugline, this element consists of three parts. Left justified, in all caps, write the glorious opening phrase: This is an (arguably) optional first step.
On to the font: Courier or Courier New, size 12. The bottom margin should be at 1 inch as well, though it varies as there are rules if dialogue breaks between pages. Screenplay marginsįirst, let’s set up your margins: top margin at 1 inch, left margin at 1.5 inches, and right margin at 1 inch. Like all aspects of art and creativity, you have to learn the rules first before you start to manipulate them. Where to start? In screenwriting, there’s a very simple mantra: format, format, format. There are different rules, different shortcuts, and, of course, different routes to stardom.
An example of this would be: Script Snippet - Secondary Location Slugline Example INT.So, you want to start writing movies? Beware: Writing a movie is a completely different experience than writing a novel. You'll often see subheadings used when characters move to another room in a house. When moving to a secondary location within a master location This secondary heading might note a change in location within a larger single location. Once the master heading is established, a writer might use a subheading or secondary scene heading to alert the reader to specific details with the master scene heading without creating a separate scene.
#Slugline example free#
As for the time of day, you can be as specific as is relevant to the story, so feel free to use day, night, dawn, dusk, morning, afternoon, etc.
Be straightforward in your labeling of the location, don't offer up unnecessary details. This type of heading starts the scene and alerts the reader to whether it's indoors (INT.) or outdoors (EXT.), the primary location, and the time of day. Master Heading in a ScriptĪ master heading is the predominant job of the slug line. They usually operate in one of two ways, as a master heading or as a subheading. Slug lines are all uppercase letters and best when left brief.
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