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So I was writing a scene and than I noticed I have no clue how to format this part
so it goes INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT right and than after that scene there a dream sequence in the same place I'm not sure how to transition from the basement to the dream than after the dream we go back to the basement again in real time and cut to the same place
Do I continue to write int. basement or just say subtitle: awhile later?
Well the first couple of scenes in episode 2 of my drama series Better Days there's a scene and than this dream sequence that kinda breaks down the walls between show and real life where the characters learn there characters for our entertainment
The scene is dumb but it fits my series and I like it
I just didn't want to skip ahead in the episode and write the rest and than come back to because it throws the story off
"Problem with SLIG lines... Is it god formating?! Give the tips where I do rong..."
For starters, it's SLUG lines not SLIG lines... sometimes I wish it was God formatting but sadly we have to do it ourselves.
Anyway, I'll give you some advice on the example you posted (not just the slug line use)
Your slug line "INT. BOSSES HOUSE- DAY" is fine if we are inside the bosses house but the description that follows is confusing.
Firstly, we have no way of knowing that it's Monday unless you show us somehow- this could be a calender or dialogue on the radio- whatever. The information you describe needs to be something we can see (or hear)
"the Boss is coming from auto salon" - is this inside his house? If not, your slugline is wrong.
"They wait in a van in front of Bosses house and observe installed cameras..." - this is outside the house so your slugline should be EXT. We don't know who "they" are (unless this is described in the previous scene)
Who is GUY? Is he in the van? You need to make this clear and introduce him as GUY in your description e.g. A GUY waits in the van and observes... This way we know who's talking.
Basically, you need to focuse on what we can SEE. If the action takes place outside, your slugline should tell us EXT. HOUSE, when it moves inside your slug should change INT. HOUSE
Take a look at this link for more info on slug lines
so, this is the scene which mostly repeats the actions... so I am asking u how to put slug lines for actions like in the cat - in the house - on the phone third party...
If you're looking for sluglines for changing venues within the location the slugline (or Master Scene Heading) designates, those are called secondary headings. Such as:
INT. HOUSE - DAY
Stuff happens
IN THE KITCHEN
Other stuff happens. And then the guy walks
IN THE LIVING ROOM
where he watches TV.
If the setting changes from the house or the time of day changes, then you need a new master heading. And never end a sentence with a secondary heading.
If you want to indicate it is Monday Morning, then you would write:
SUPER THE LEGEND: Monday Morning
or even more simply:
SUPER: Monday Morning
The opening scene in your sketch appears to be EXT. BOSS'S HOUSE - DAY and then it seems to change to INT. BANK - DAY.
Sluglines should always be INT. or EXT. depending on where the CAMERA is supposed to be. You can have EXT. HOUSE and write "Person gets stuff off of kitchen counter visible through back door. He walks outside." After INT. or EXT. you have the Location and then the time of day whch should be either DAY or NIGHT. You should avoid the use of DAWN, EVENING, TWILIGHT, DUSK, etc. unless those are very important to the story.
If you have a movie like Star Wars with multiple planets and then multiple locations on each planet, you could do something like this:
EXT. HOMESTEAD - TATTOOINE - DAY
These would go from specific to general. If you wanted to be long winded throughout a house, you could say:
INT. BATHROOM - BOB'S HOUSE - NIGHT
INT. BEDROOM - MARIE'S HOUSE - NIGHT
If you have multiple years you need to keep straight you can say:
EXT. HILL VALLEY COURTHOUSE - DAY - 2015
These heading are for the filmmakers or reader to keep everything straight.
If you are doing a flashback, you could also have a slugline like this.
EXT. BATTLEFIELD - GETTYBURG - DAY - 1863 - FLASHBACK
It's a little excessive and there are other more concise ways of doing flashbacks, but it is a legal formatting option. A slugline is your only chance to control the direction, since past that point, it's all show not tell.
As far as I kow, CONTINUOUS isn't always necessary. I only use it when it seems necessary to avoid confusion. Most of the time it's not needed. For example:
EXT. JON'S HOUSE- DAY
Jon walks up the driveway.
INT. JON'S HOUSE- CONTINUOUS
John enters.
INT. LIVING ROOM- CONTINUOUS
Jon walks in and sits down.
This is an example of unnecessary usage. The reader can easily figue out that this is continuous. If it is not continuous you would write INT. LIVING ROOM- LATER or somethig similar.
An alternative to using continuous is "SAME" which is also widely accepted.
You'll get differing opinions on this one but the issue is simple. If you don't know what CONTINUOUS is used for, don't use it. No insult, Mr.Z, but that's the question you asked ('Is it necessary'?) You acknowledge that it's rather annoying and that could be because it's another technical term when spec screenplay format is always moving towards elimination of such things.
Here it is from the respected writer on screenplay format, Charles Deemer:
'Always use DAY or NIGHT as time (if afternoon, dusk, etc., are important, put them in action or in parentheses after day or night). Don't use CONTINUOUS and other variants -- some readers turn blue seeing them, why take a chance? Don't give them an excuse to dislike you.'
Thanks for your reply jonwood. Actually, I know what´s "CONTINUOUS" for, but as you well wrote, there are different opinions on this one, and that´s why I started this post. Your feedback is apreciated as well.
In my own opinion, using Continuous is usually unnecessary because the reader should be able to decipher what is going on from the text and action. As you've noticed, reading continuous all the time does get tiring.
That part of the slugline is intended to be used for DAY or NIGHT, and occasionally LATER. Designations such as DUSK, DAWN, and TWILIGHT should only be used if it is necessary to tell the story. CONTINUOUS does not really add to the story and scenes from an audience perspective flow one into another anyway...only the action and setting tells us what is happening and whether it is back to back or not.
I either stick to DAY/NIGHT or omit the time designation altogether in a "continuous" setting, since it is not necessary for the reader. Such is my opinion.
I don't really pay attention to the "continuous". That's a writer to writer preference. But doesn't bother me either way. I do it myself. Mentality of a reader here - you generally have so many to read, you just want to get through it as quickly as possible...and be hooked. But there's a signal a scene has possibly gone on too long and could be a pacing problem, you see too many of those "continuous" on one page and the same exact slug. JMO.
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