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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  Slugline -- bold text or not? Moderators: George Willson
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  Author    Slugline -- bold text or not?  (currently 3521 views)
UofOstudent
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 8:46pm Report to Moderator
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I've heard (through somewhat reliable sources) that using bold text on your sluglines is catching on.  Is there any truth to this?
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Baltis.
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 8:50pm Report to Moderator
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No... No it's not.  Unless you mean in the same way Bell-bottoms or tattoo's positioned above your girlfriends ass are catching on.
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dogglebe
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:03pm Report to Moderator
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I hear disco's making a comeback....

Nothing should be in bold... or underlined.  On extremely rare occasions, you can use italics.


Phil
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Matt Chisholm
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:10pm Report to Moderator
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I actually like bold slug lines. Separates scenes, makes it easier for me to read. I know Rob does it, or did it when he was around.

Then again I also like "we see," "we hear," camera angles, song suggestions, dual dialogue and pretty much every other thing writers are apparently not supposed to do.


I can't live the buttoned-down life like you. I want it all. The dizzying highs, the terrifying lows, the creamy middles. Sure, I may offend some of the blue bloods with my cocky stride and musky odors. Oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "city fathers," who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards and talk about what's to be done with this Homer Simpson?
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Baltis.
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:14pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Matt Chisholm
I actually like bold slug lines. Separates scenes, makes it easier for me to read.I know Rob does it, or did it when he was around.

Then again I also like "we see," "we hear," camera angles, song suggestions, dual dialogue and pretty much every other thing writers are apparently not supposed to do.


For your own personal use or your friends -- Sounds exquisite.  But I'd be leery of sending it off to an analyst or an agent or a producer like that.  Unless you're sleeping with them of course.  I hear many things slide in between the sheets when you're sleeping with one.
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bert
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:18pm Report to Moderator
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You're not crazy, UO.  (Ohio or Oregon?)

Balt's colorful dismissal of the concept notwithstanding, I have seen it more and more.

I kind of like it, and can see where it makes the read a little easier.  To me, anyway.

Not sure if I am ready to fully buy into it yet, though -- change always comes slowly.  I experimented with it in my last script, and was only partially satisfied with the technique.  And some people howled about it haha.

Maybe for a feature, but surely unnecessary for a short script.


Hey, it's my tiny, little IMDb!
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UofOstudent
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:22pm Report to Moderator
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...University of Oregon Bert...and thanks for the insight.
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JonnyBoy
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:37pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from dogglebe
Nothing should be in bold... or underlined.  On extremely rare occasions, you can use italics.


Sorkin underlines. I know he can afford to, but I personally think it can work in dialogue and have used it on occasion.



Guess who's back? Back again?
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Murphy
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:41pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from UofOstudent
I've heard (through somewhat reliable sources) that using bold text on your sluglines is catching on.  Is there any truth to this?


Yes, I have read a few specs recently with bold slugs. It certainly does seem to becoming more common.

Don't listen to haters, they are just far too anal about these things. Do what you want, script readers don't care how you format your slugs.
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RayW
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:45pm Report to Moderator
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Through another something I'm working on, I'm forming an opinion that some of the format stuff we haggle over around here really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

If the story's good, up front and through-and-through and ends with a bang! - everyone will forgive minor transgressions.

Michael Mann's HEAT
Standard/plain - http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Heat.pdf
Bold Slugs and Characters - http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Heat.html

Personally, I just like the bold slugs.
Bolding the characters is a bit much for me.
I reference back and forth, up and down, a fair bit, so I find it helpful for quick reference points.
However, seeing that I'm something of a bulldozing pig, I understand that MOST people are much more delicate readers than I (thus they are to be considered normal).

Honestly, you should pander to the greatest audience of readers.
Readers are a fickle lot that will toss your work into the trash for petty reasons.
The fewer things you do to offend their delicate eyes the more eyes you will have reading more of your screenplay.
IMHO.

GL.



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dogglebe
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 10:09pm Report to Moderator
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When homebrewing beer there is an argument about hot-side aeration.  Does introducing air into the hot unfermented beer contribute off-flavors to the finished beer?  Some people will say that hot-side aeration ruins the beer.  Others say that it's a myth and that it doesn't carry any weight.

Hot side aeration can be avoided.  Given this, I chose not to do it.  Why take the chance in ruining my beer?

The same argument can be said here.  Some people will say it's okay to use bold print.  Some will say it will hurt the script.  No one, however, will tell you that not using bold print will hurt the script.

So why use it?  Why take the chance?


Phil
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Baltis.
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 10:16pm Report to Moderator
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Gotta agree with Phil here... Why take the extra second to bold the header when I know Final Draft 8, Sophocles, Movie Outline don't offer it as even a customizable general feature?  That, without reading "books", lets me know right there that, while many things aren't addressed within software and certainly books, it's not apart of them for a reason.  

That reason being it's just not needed.  Regardless if it's acceptable or not.

Auto Cap On Sentences +
Auto Guess Next Cued Character +
Auto 1.5 space on next line +

AUTO BOLD SCENE HEADER (-)

That's 3 to 1, by the way.  But you (TOPIC CREATOR) go ahead and do what makes "YOU" feel better.  I hear there is a brilliant screenwriter on youtube teaching you how to bind and write scripts.  He's from Tampa Florida and he's an expert.  I'll link ya to him if you want.  He'll know better than any of us.
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bert
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 10:21pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from dogglebe
Some people will say that hot-side aeration ruins the beer.  Others say that it's a myth and that it doesn't carry any weight.


The problem with your analogy, Phil, is that you are leaving out the third group -- those who say hot-side aeration is yummy.

What if there is a growing population that says, "You know, I kind of like hot-side aeration, and while I know some people don't like it or don't care, I had some hot-side aerated beer and it was really good."

Even if it is something that does not catch on, it can be perilous to ignore change and dismiss it out-of-hand.  You are like an old dogglebe not interested in new tricks haha.



Hey, it's my tiny, little IMDb!
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dogglebe
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 10:32pm Report to Moderator
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No one wants oxidized beer (the supposed results of hot side aeration); it tastes like wet cardboard.  It's a faulty flavor and not something that the discriminating beer drinker would want.


Phil
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Murphy
Posted: November 29th, 2010, 10:49pm Report to Moderator
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Evolution - Everything evolves. Even language evolves.

Screenwriting is no different, it has been evolving for a hundred years and will always continue to do so. What was hot ten years ago may not be hot tomorrow and vice versa.

Who knows, the next big thing might be no sluglines at all, maybe it will be YELLOW sluglines. There is no point staying in the past just because someone once said this is the way it should be.

Reading many sold specs, many of them first time sales, has taught me that nobody really cares.

If your title and your logline is good, if your story sounds interesting and commercial then someone will read your script. If they think it is any good they will send it upstairs, they have to, it is their job. They ignore spelling mistakes, format and bad writing (to a degree of course) and only care about the story. That is effectively what the business is all about, story!

Now it does not mean it is not a good idea not to correct any spelling mistakes you have, and it certainly is not a licence to write badly. But it also means that there are many, many, many more important things you are going to be judged on when a reader reads your script.

In fact format does not even appear in the leaked guidelines given to readers at one particular talent agency.

Personally I do not like bold slugs, so I don't use them. But if they make you feel better about your script then use them. Whatever it takes.
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