I have recently stumbled upon a problem in screenwriting and who better to ask than all of you?!

When having a scene start INSIDE and move through DIFFERENT ROOMS and eventually lead OUTSIDE, all while the characters are talking, which is the best way to format?

I have seen a few ways of doing it.

For example:

INT/EXT. MANSION LOBBY - NIGHT

Mike and Barry exhchange in handshakes.

(Dialogue)

Mike leads Barry through the house, down stairs to the backyard.

(Dialogue)

MANSION BACKYARD:

The two men gather at the bbq.

(Dialogue)



Does that sound about right?

Cheers

P.S. GO THE WALLABIES!!!

You've seen a few ways of doing it, so copy the one you feel most comfortable with. So long as it is clear, you're doing it right.

Quoted from DustinBowcot You've seen a few ways of doing it, so copy the one you feel most comfortable with. So long as it is clear, you're doing it right.

Well, that example I gave was the way I found best. Is it?

Cheers

Quoted from BSaunders Well, that example I gave was the way I found best. Is it? Cheers

If you feel that that is the best, then that is what you use. It doesn't matter what I think.

Whichever is the clearest, most direct way is the best way.

It works best if you're in the White House and Allison Janney is one of your actors.

Quoted from oJOHNNYoNUTSo i recommend you use a full slug anytime there's a time lapse between scenes

Done. That reads best. Thanks for your help.  

I would use " Mansion Backyard" as a short scene heading, reads a bit more smoothly IMO.... example

INT/EXT. MANSION LOBBY - NIGHT

Mike and Barry exhchange in handshakes.

(Dialogue)

Mike leads Barry through the house, down stairs to --

THE BACKYARD

The two men gather at the bbq.

(Dialogue)

oJOHNNYoNUTSo, I don't think we've ever met. My name is Austin.

Scripts are meant to be filmed, and each bit of information has meaning. We capitalize new characters so someone knows how many actors to cast. Slugs give the most info: They're for lighting, sound, cinematographers. Almost everyone on set benefits from the SLUG.

Writing INT/EXT on a slug line gives the lighting/sound crew enough info to know that this scene will need both set ups.

If you have a scene that takes place in a parking lot (obviously EXT) but some of the shots take place inside the car (Obviously interior) you can write EXT/INT. CAR - DAY and you're done. As long as you're clear in the shots, you're good to go without having to write EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY and then INT. CAR - DAY

I get the impression you don't like mini-slugs either. I LOVE them. They're easier to read. If I'm writing a few scenes all within the same main building (home, school, office, etc), I'm going to write LIVING ROOM instead of INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM. There's no point in writing INT. HOUSE if it doesn't change.

I do agree with the above: ALWAYS change the slugline if you're changing the location or the time of day.

What you're essentially doing is creating a sequence of scenes when doing the minislugs. Those won't get taken out of context. A change of location or a change of time will - After all, it's easier to shoot all of the night scenes at the same time. Sequences, however, will probably be shot together. They'll use the same lighting and sound set ups.

Personally, I would go with two separate full slugs to avoid any confusion. Although INT/EXT shots can work, they have to be done in the right way.

I rarely use mini slugs, although they look great and work just fine in most cases. There are cases where they don't work. However, I also think that in the right scripts, mini slugs will be the perfect choice.

There's also a difference in spec scripts and shooting scripts. I was taught not to use mini slugs in shooting scripts.

I don't remember the rule on EXT/INT for shooting scripts.

Also, each scene will dictate its own rules. If you spend five minutes in the lobby, then it's going to be INT. LOBBY - NIGHT.

If your character only passes through, then why include it in anyway? Seems like a waste of space.

It all depends on context.