I've been reading Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434 and he suggested that sluglines should be Day or Night only.  No Dusk, Evening, Morning, etc.  He felt that to use these other descriptions was amateurish.  

I was unaware that this was a no, no.  Anyway, I was curious to hear some opinions.

Day or Night should be the PRIMARY times of day that you use. It means the sun is either up or down, and in most stories, that's quite enough. Things don't usually happen during sunrise or sunset/dawn or dusk. Morning and evening are completely pointless because they are about the same as day and night. The script will reflect the time of day, so you are again left with day or night.

However... There are some very, very rare instances where you MIGHT want to use DAWN or DUSK. And really only those two would be the only other ones. Why? Because with those two, the sun is neither up nor down. It is sitting directly on the horizon in the process of going up or down. What are some times you would use these?

Vampire movies. Guess when the climax of most classic vampire movies occurs. Dawn or dusk, That's when it happened in the original Dracula novel. They could only affect Dracula at dusk or dawn because that's when he was at his weakest. Hence, the final showdown in the book was at dusk. Let us remember the movie From Dusk Till Dawn. I'll bet that film used those slugs to denote the specific time.

I used it once when I had a vampire-like character sit and wait for the sun to rise on him. Dawn was the singular best time to use because the scene occurred literally as the sun was coming up, so neither day nor night would have been appropriate.

It could also be used when the story indicates that something important will happen at that time, and so when you hit that climactic moment, you would throw in DUSK or whatever to show that you've reached that time when the climax is about to happen. It would be better than trying to decide between day or night and then putting dusk in the action.

It should be used very sparingly and only in great need, but if you have a scene happening outside at that specific time when the sun is sitting on the horizon, it would be appropriate.

Those are good examples.

Another that came to me, Dawn of the Dead (2004). When they were getting on the boat, Dawn would've probably been used because Michael said he'd be watching the sunrise.

Just another that came to me. =)

-Sean

Gotcha - thanks George.  

Prior to reading this, I had used Dusk in a slug, not necessarily for any specific reason (like the ones you mentioned above).  I guess I just felt that the Dusk slug added to the overall feel/mood I was shooting for.  Probably best to stick with Day or Night then unless there is a really specific need.

It's redundant to tell us what time of day it is, if you can show us what time of day it is.  Explain dusk to us in a visual way.  That's why "DAY" & "NIGHT" are the primary pegs we use.  It's a general time. If it's light, we assume it's day.  If it's dark, we assume it's night.  

All these can be applied unless you're script is in Alaska.

Then again...

While I understand that on film there is little difference between Day and Morning or Night and Dusk, before it gets to that stage, a person must first read the screenplay.  A reader is better apt to get the slight distinction and feel of those different times and it may make a difference in the overall reading of the script.  No?  

Quoted from Baltis. It's redundant to tell us what time of day it is, if you can show us what time of day it is.  Explain dusk to us in a visual way.  That's why "DAY" & "NIGHT" are the primary pegs we use.  It's a general time. If it's light, we assume it's day.  If it's dark, we assume it's night.   All these can be applied unless you're script is in Alaska.

Hey Balt, what would your opinion be on a scene where it's daytime, but dark out?

Would you put Night and explain that it's daytime, by showing a clock or something, or still put Day?

Quoted from Craiger6 Then again... While I understand that on film there is little difference between Day and Morning or Night and Dusk, before it gets to that stage, a person must first read the screenplay.  A reader is better apt to get the slight distinction and feel of those different times and it may make a difference in the overall reading of the script.  No?

Your job is to write visually... If we can't discern what time of day it is with how you set up your scenes and visually explain them, then I think you're going to have a hard time with anything you do in this business.

The sun hides behind a gradient curtain that will soon become night.

For example...

DAY and NIGHT are just indicators of what the scene looks like. These are about the only camera directions that exist in a spec. If it's technically "day" but it's dark out (as in "30 Days of Night"), then you write NIGHT. The script will indicate when stuff is happening. The slugs just tell us what we see. The script tells us what's really going on.

"If we can't discern what time of day it is with how you set up your scenes and visually explain them, then I think you're going to have a hard time with anything you do in this business."

Truer words may never have been spoken.  haha.

I use all kinds: DAY, NIGHT, MORNING, SUNRISE, DUSK etc.

For me, it adds to establishing the visual tone of the scene.

Quoted from Why One I use all kinds: DAY, NIGHT, MORNING, SUNRISE, DUSK etc. For me, it adds to establishing the visual tone of the scene.

That's what you do in the action paragraph. Not the sluglines...

The slugs can play a part.

Quoted from Why One The slugs can play a part.

Only to the reader... An audience isn't going to read your movie.  They're going to watch it.

Quoted from Why One No, but producers, managers, agents etc read your script.  For example -- from another Nicholl winning script: INT.  KITCHEN - MORNING Good Day New York plays on a small counter-top television. Bre, dressed for work, moves around the kitchen with a practiced efficiency - pouring coffee just in time to snag the toast that has just popped out of the toaster. No need to describe morning light through the window etc.  Throw MORNING in the slug and the scene is already carrying texture and tone -- something the audience will immediately see on first frame.  The writer can just get on with describing action.

You're going to argue no matter what I say, so go ahead on about your way.  If I don't opt out of this now you will keep bouncing the ping pong ball back across the table.  Yes, you "CAN" use DAWN, DUSK, MORNING, NOON, TWILIGHT, MIDNIGHT, BRUNCH, LUNCH and any other word to describe a specific time of day but being specific is a broad assessment when dealing with time and movie space.

Do you know how many times they use day for night in movies?  I use DAY or I use NIGHT.  I describe anything in between by eluding too or pointing too.  I'm not saying I'm right.... I'm saying I'm versed.