That's true Baltis and that's why production want to see if it takes place during NIGHT or DAY. For scheduling. Not for mood setting. That's what the action paragraphs are for.  And I say that with a smile because I'm not arguing.

I agree with Why One here.  We're talking about spec scripts, not shooting scripts.  Why not give sa much info as possible to your readers while taking up no additional space?  I see absolutely nothing wrong with noting more detail than simple day or night.  If your script runs in semi real time, it helps the reader understand this.

Keep in mind that spec scripts don't have the luxery of visual clues that make certain things obviuos in a filmed version.  I say give all the info you can in your slugs.  Why not?

All of you guys are correct to some extent.

It is fine to give a little extra detail as long as it has meaning to the story.

George's vampire at dawn is a great example.  There is a reason for this scene to occur at dawn, so it makes sense to "slug" it as such.

That scene is not going to be filmed at "day" or "night" -- that scene would be filmed, in fact, at "dawn".

But do so sparingly -- as it is easy to carry this to absurd lengths, like Balt's example of "brunch" haha.  There are plenty of examples of poor usage on these boards, and the scripts do suffer for it.

Nobody will ding you if your use is justified by the story.

But yes, you will turn off an experienced reader if your deviations from established conventions add nothing of substance.

Appreciate all the feedback.  I submitted the my first script the other day to SS and sure enough the first slug is DUSK.  Haha.  Well, live and learn.  Live and learn.  Thanks again all.

I personally use more than just 'DAY' and 'NIGHT'. In fact, I rarely use 'DAY' - I  use 'MORNING', 'AFTERNOON', 'EVENING'...

Why? Because, I think it helps you to better visualise a scene, particularly what's going on in the background. We can't write everything that's going on onscreen, but I get a sense of what might be happening from a time-specific slug. For instance, compare these two examples:

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - EVENING

Tom crosses the road, mobile phone balanced on his shoulder, struggling to hold all his bags.

OR

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT

Tom crosses the road, mobile phone balanced on his shoulder, struggling to hold all his bags.

The only difference between those two words is the time in the slugline. But, to me, they present completely different settings. If Tom is on the street in the evening, he may have to look out for cars, there may be other people around...but if it's late at night, he might be in a deserted street, he might be careful not to be too loud. Both scenes would take place in the dark, which means it's certainly not 'DAY'. But if you don't imagine it as night, is it wrong to put 'EVENING'?

Now, I'm as amateur as they come; I've never had a single script produced (although someone has requested permission and committed to shooting Nothing Left to Say and has already started scouting for locations - hopefully that'll come through) and so I may well be wrong. But to me, it feels perfectly natural to write more than DAY and NIGHT, and I honestly think there is no problem with it at all. I'm certainly not going to pick you up on it, Craiger.

A quick question.  We all use therm slugline, yet I have seen instances where slugline is used as a separate term from Scene Heading.  What's being described in this thread would be called a Scene Heading, and slugline would be more or less what I have also heard called a 'shot', so to speak.

Here are the two relevant pages from a website called Story Sense.  

Scene Heading: http://www.storysense.com/format/headings.htm

Sluglines: http://www.storysense.com/format/slugs.htm

This site offers script analysis, and has a format guide as well.  They specifically state that a slugline is totally different than a Scene Heading.

Any thoughts on this?

Quoted from steven8 A quick question.  We all use therm slugline, yet I have seen instances where slugline is used as a separate term from Scene Heading.  What's being described in this thread would be called a Scene Heading, and slugline would be more or less what I have also heard called a 'shot', so to speak. Here are the two relevant pages from a website called Story Sense.   Scene Heading: http://www.storysense.com/format/headings.htm Sluglines: http://www.storysense.com/format/slugs.htm This site offers script analysis, and has a format guide as well.  They specifically state that a slugline is totally different than a Scene Heading. Any thoughts on this?

I usually call the

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

lines, SCENE HEADERs... By and large, that's what they are.  

I usually call the

Empty, the house sits undisturbed.

Line, the action or slugs.  Depends, though.  Sometimes I feel like eating kit kats over Paydays... Somedays I even decide not to eat anything sweet at all.  Sometimes I even decide what not to wear the day before.

It's... Subjective. All of it. But if you fuck up I'm going to call you out on it...   >

But with that said, that website blows goat nips and porks chickens in the butt.

Quoted from Baltis. that website blows goat nips and porks chickens in the butt.

I never expected that to come out of your mouth.  

Quoted from Baltis. It's... Subjective. All of it.

Then I guess this discussion is officially over.

Interesting, Steven.  I think "we" use Slugs to include Scene Headings, as it's kind of understood what we're talking about.

The Slugs described in your attachment are not "full" Slugs, or Scene Headings, which is why they have their own page and description.  Just another way to use them, really.

I personally do not like writing Slugs this way.  I like formal, full Slugs (Scene Headings).  I think they provide more information, and there's no way to get confused what you're reading.

Quoted from Dreamscale Interesting, Steven.  I think "we" use Slugs to include Scene Headings, as it's kind of understood what we're talking about. The Slugs described in your attachment are not "full" Slugs, or Scene Headings, which is why they have their own page and description.  Just another way to use them, really. I personally do not like writing Slugs this way.  I like formal, full Slugs (Scene Headings).  I think they provide more information, and there's no way to get confused what you're reading.

That's what I thought.  That it would be confusing.  I think it makes more sense to call what they are calling a slugline a 'shot', because it's a shot within the scene.

Quoted from steven8 A quick question.  We all use therm slugline, yet I have seen instances where slugline is used as a separate term from Scene Heading.  What's being described in this thread would be called a Scene Heading, and slugline would be more or less what I have also heard called a 'shot', so to speak.

This would be a "you say tomAYto, I say tomAHto" kind of issue. For my experience, I've seen your scene headings called sluglines, and your sluglines referred to as secondary headings. As long as we know what we're talking about, we're good. Round here, INT. KITCHEN - DAY is a slug.

Quoted from Baltis. But with that said, that website blows goat nips and porks chickens in the butt.

And a hearty welcome back to the Balt we all know and love.

My take on format is as long as it is clear what is going on then less is more. Long headers bore the arse off readers, as does repetition.

If it's a classic vampire story it'd be daft not to use Dawn and Dusk in the headers. And in certain parts of the world there is a huge difference between morning, noon and dusk. Use your judgement and if it works keep it.

If you read enough produced scripts you will see all kinds of indicators used to described time.  Just the other day I read the script for X men, and the word EVENING was used.

I say follow your teachers whim inorder to get a good mark but don't listen to him because in the end it's your call.

Quoted Text If you read enough produced scripts you will see all kinds of indicators used to described time.  Just the other day I read the script for X men, and the word EVENING was used.

This is true for scripts that have already been optioned/sold and are currently in their next draft after being greenlit. Usually writers will be hired through pre-production to re-write several drafts that include actual notes from the Director and DP in them.

As a whole, 97% of your slugs should be "DAY" or "NIGHT." The other 3% can be used when it is absolutely vital for your story OR when using "DAY"  "NIGHT" may confuse the story. My opinion

Quoted Text I say follow your teachers whim inorder to get a good mark but don't listen to him because in the end it's your call

   Great advice!

EXT. (BUT NOT QUITE, KIND OF LIKE A PORTE-COCHERE) HOUSE (A BIG HOUSE, LIKE BILL GATES' HOUSE ON LAKE WASHINGTON) - ALMOST NIGHT, BUT WITH A FULL MOON, AND SOME STARS AND SHIT, MAYBE A PLANE GLIDING IN, AND A SATELLITE KIND OF DARK, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM BUT THE SUN STILL HASN'T COMPLETELY GONE DOWN YET, CASTING THE HAZE, YOU KNOW? WITH SOME COLORS TO TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF NIGHT IT IS. NOT LIKE PITCH BLACK NIGHT, OKAY?

BOB, a big clumsy idiot...