I don't know if reveal gag is the proper terminology but what I mean is a joke with the punchline being when the camera pans out to show something or reveal something previously unknown.

For example having the Emperor walk out on stage to the imperial march or something and give this long horrible speech about how brutal the empire is being and then panning out to show that its at the republican national convention, on a banner or whatever.  

Do you completely commit the location until you need to mention it for the joke or what? It seems like if you included it in the slugline it would ruin the joke for the reader and that doesn't seem like a good thing.

So any advice would be helpful and thanks in advance.

sheepwalker

In your example, the gag is the banner.  This would be the last thing that you would describe.


Phil

I think the banner is on the right track, but I'd take it a step further to avoid using the camera directions.

Maybe have him walk past a sign, or later show the crowd cheering with signs and what not to explain what it is.

Thanks to the both of you, that clears it up for me.

sheepwalker