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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  When is it OK to use DUSK, DAWN, ETC.? Moderators: George Willson
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  Author    When is it OK to use DUSK, DAWN, ETC.?  (currently 2960 views)
ReaperCreeper
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 2:03pm Report to Moderator
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I hadn't given a lot of though to this before because I hadn't written many scenes where the precise time of day and transitioning natural light were particularly crucial.

With this in mind, would you relegate the importance of dawn and dusk to action/description or just make it a part of the actual heading?

I'm thinking of just making it part of the heading because it would save space and get the point across quicker, but I was curious to see what people thought since I and many others tend to just stick with NIGHT and DAY most of the time.

Is this one of those "it doesn't matter" questions to you?

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DustinBowcot
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 2:18pm Report to Moderator
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The last one.
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HyperMatt
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 5:05pm Report to Moderator
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I would avoid it if I were you. Only use if these specific times of day are really essential to the plot. Stick to the traditional DAY/ NIGHT.


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eldave1
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 5:42pm Report to Moderator
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I use dusk or dawn in the header.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Zack
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 6:08pm Report to Moderator
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I see no issue with using Dusk or Dawn in a header, as long as it's integral to the scene.

Zack
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Dreamscale
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 7:16pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from HyperMatt
I would avoid it if I were you. Only use if these specific times of day are really essential to the plot. Stick to the traditional DAY/ NIGHT.


NO!  Disagree completely.

If dusk, dawn, whatever is the time, use it in your Slug, just like you would day or night.

One can argue that unless we're dealing with a vampire or the like, it doesn't or shouldn't matter, but it can matter...and it can make a scene much more powerful because of it.

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FrankM
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 9:24pm Report to Moderator
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I had a scene where the Sun was supposed to peek over the horizon during the scene. I just used NIGHT because it started before DAWN.


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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eldave1
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 9:25pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from FrankM
I had a scene where the Sun was supposed to peek over the horizon during the scene. I just used NIGHT because it started before DAWN.


NIGHT is fine. I might have gone with ALMOST DAWN


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Dreamscale
Posted: January 7th, 2019, 11:06pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from FrankM
I had a scene where the Sun was supposed to peek over the horizon during the scene. I just used NIGHT because it started before DAWN.


Funny, cuz, NIGHT really isn't even correct...it's morning after 12 PM.
Now, don't get me wrong...if a scene is set at 2:00 Am, 3:00 AM, whatever, I think of that as NIGHT, but 5, 6, 7 AM, depending on the season?  That's MORNING.

If you want the sun to rise in the scene, you're showing exactly what time that is, in that region, and in that season.

It's your script.  write it the way that you want it filmed.  And...don't worry about it.

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ghost and_ghostie gal
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 12:50am Report to Moderator
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@ReaperCreeper

I'll piggyback on the others'.  If it makes the read easier, then do it.  Personally.  Unless there is a specific narrative reason that a specific time of day is needed, or the subject matter is time sensitive... I only use DAY/NIGHT, and let my story set the mood.  But that's just me.

_ghostwriter


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FrankM
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 4:20am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from eldave1


NIGHT is fine. I might have gone with ALMOST DAWN


Or PRE-DAWN, but it’s the second slug in a spec script, so I didn’t want to get off to a nonstandard start just in case a reader is a sticker for “tradition.”


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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MarkRenshaw
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 5:45am Report to Moderator
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DAY or NIGHT is there so the production team can quickly look at each scene and know what lighting will be required. Night shooting is far more expensive than Day shooting, so the budget is affected.  This is also why you put INT and EXT. It quickly highlights areas for planning and budget estimation.

Therefore, if your story has a specific requirement for dusk or dawn and this is something the audience will see, definitely include it. If it doesn’t and you like the idea of this scene taking place at dusk just for a change, use day or night instead; preferably day.    


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
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FrankM
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 5:59am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from MarkRenshaw
DAY or NIGHT is there so the production team can quickly look at each scene and know what lighting will be required. Night shooting is far more expensive than Day shooting, so the budget is affected.  This is also why you put INT and EXT. It quickly highlights areas for planning and budget estimation.

Therefore, if your story has a specific requirement for dusk or dawn and this is something the audience will see, definitely include it. If it doesn’t and you like the idea of this scene taking place at dusk just for a change, use day or night instead; preferably day.    


Not sure about the scene RC is envisioning, but for the scene I mentioned one character says “good morning” and the second replies that “it’s not even dawn yet” and during that second dialogue the Sun peeks above the horizon. Since the Sun can be a separate shot, there’s no need to have the actors outside at precisely the right moment.

I’m not a director, but I think the primary photography could done in a broad swath of pre-dawn allowing for multiple takes... assuming they don’t just shoot it during the night and overexpose the sky. Just a bit of my thought process calling it a NIGHT scene.


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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Grandma Bear
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 8:10am Report to Moderator
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I used to be pretty strict on using only DAY or NIGHT. I still only use those out of habit, but I no longer insist on it being the right way. Why? Because a script will be read many many times by the producers/directors and when they plan the shooting of the film, they will decide if the scene will be shot during the DAY or NIGHT. Using DUSK, DAWN, MORNING, AFTERNOON or anything else helps the reader, which is all you need to worry about at this stage.



PS: Is that a drum I hear?  


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Mr.Ripley
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 8:14am Report to Moderator
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I agree with Pia.

Side note: Where’s the drum coming from so I can run the opposite direction. lol.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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JohnI
Posted: January 8th, 2019, 3:42pm Report to Moderator
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I use morning, afternoon, and evening - same as day / night. If it needs more description (i.e. dawn is breaking, dusk,) then i include that in my first action description,  Key is to be consistent in headings.
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Matthew Taylor
Posted: January 9th, 2019, 5:08am Report to Moderator
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Don't understand why as a writer you would want to limit yourself to only DAY and NIGHT


Feature

42.2

Two steps to writing a good screenplay:
1) Write a bad one
2) Fix it
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Dreamscale
Posted: January 9th, 2019, 10:10am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Matthew Taylor
Don't understand why as a writer you would want to limit yourself to only DAY and NIGHT


Great question and great point!

Using only DAY or NIGHT is downright foolish.

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ReneC
Posted: January 10th, 2019, 12:42pm Report to Moderator
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It's all about the lighting and the look. DAY and NIGHT are usually sufficient but sometimes you want to literally cast a different light on the scene, or the time of day is important for the story, and you should always include it in the slug line.

Something else to consider is the logistics of filming. I use MORNING, DAY, AFTERNOON, EVENING, and NIGHT all the time, but I reserve anything more specific (DAWN, DUSK, EARLY MORNING, NOON, etc.) for when it is absolutely necessary. You have a very small window to capture the right light for those times of day, so it better be crucial to the story. And if you can cheat it, you can probably just stick with MORNING or EVENING or whatever more generic time is appropriate.



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Dreamscale
Posted: January 10th, 2019, 6:14pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from ReneC
It's all about the lighting and the look. DAY and NIGHT are usually sufficient but sometimes you want to literally cast a different light on the scene, or the time of day is important for the story, and you should always include it in the slug line.

Something else to consider is the logistics of filming. I use MORNING, DAY, AFTERNOON, EVENING, and NIGHT all the time, but I reserve anything more specific (DAWN, DUSK, EARLY MORNING, NOON, etc.) for when it is absolutely necessary. You have a very small window to capture the right light for those times of day, so it better be crucial to the story. And if you can cheat it, you can probably just stick with MORNING or EVENING or whatever more generic time is appropriate.


AGREED, AGREED, AGREED!!!!!!  

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eldave1
Posted: January 10th, 2019, 7:07pm Report to Moderator
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I'm going to start using a clock.

INT. DAVE'S HOUSE - 4:06 PM


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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MarkRenshaw
Posted: January 11th, 2019, 4:14am Report to Moderator
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INT. MARK'S HOUSE: 11th JANUARY 2019 - SUPPER TIME


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
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eldave1
Posted: January 11th, 2019, 4:27pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from MarkRenshaw
INT. MARK'S HOUSE: 11th JANUARY 2019 - SUPPER TIME


Perfect


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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FrankM
Posted: January 11th, 2019, 6:04pm Report to Moderator
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INT. HOTEL ROOM - SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WORK ON THIS TRIP BUT CHECKING SS INSTEAD


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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eldave1
Posted: January 11th, 2019, 6:33pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from FrankM
INT. HOTEL ROOM - SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WORK ON THIS TRIP BUT CHECKING SS INSTEAD


lol


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Sandra Elstree.
Posted: January 11th, 2019, 11:07pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale


NO!  Disagree completely.

If dusk, dawn, whatever is the time, use it in your Slug, just like you would day or night.

One can argue that unless we're dealing with a vampire or the like, it doesn't or shouldn't matter, but it can matter...and it can make a scene much more powerful because of it.



I agree with Jeff, completely.

Just think in terms of your script...

The mood you've created-- Think Contact- VEGA!!!! ... Oh that's me, But think how the sun just barely on the rise or sets and impacts that mood. For heaven's sake, don't write  merely "Day" in your slug if the "time of day" is  "more significant and meaningful".  

In your script, you make the call.

If you determine it doesn't matter, then of course:

Toss the specifics; otherwise, make your slug count.

Sandra



A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
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