If I have 2 locations that are similar, what would be the best way to announce them in my scene heading.  Both are external shots of different pubs and both are at night but neither have actual names.  Just 2 similar settings where different characters are located.  Should I simply say:

EXT. PUB 1 - NIGHT
   Some action here.
EXT. PUB 2 - NIGHT
   Some other action here.

I apologize it this topic has already been beaten to death in another thread... I tried to search the forum but came up empty.

Thanks!
Dave

A space in between the two, yes.  It looks fine.  Now, if the scene ends from one to the next you can put cut to: on the 1.5 justified margin to the right... This will add more space and break things up better.  You don't have to use it, but it's something to experiment with.  I still use cut to: to mark time passing or if a scene has ended.

Thanks Baltis.  Just to clarify... formatting aside, identifying them as PUB 1 and PUB 2 is perfectly acceptable?

If I were you, no.  I would give them names.  Something more to chew on.  Something we can think about while envisioning the two establishments.  You can call them pub1 and pub2, if those are the names you landed on... But meh, not too exciting.

Identify them some way.

EAST PUB and  WEST PUB

OLD PUB and NEW PUB

JEFFERSON ST. PUB and ADAMS AVE. PUB

THE SILVER SHILLING and WET JOE'S

Something.
Anything.
But not PUB 1 and PUB 2

http://www.guy-sports.com/funny/funny_pub_names.htm#Funny,_Amusing,_Hilarious_and_Strange_Pub_Names
Devil's Punchbowl
The Elusive Camel
The Hung Drawn And Quartered
The Fawcett Inn
Dirty Nelly's
The Hairy Lemon
The Three-Legged Mare [Known locally as The Wonky Donkey]
The Hog In The Pound
Pig and Whistle
The Roaring Donkey
Spread Eagle
Dirty Dick's
Filthy Mc Nasty's

Thanks guys.  I was thinking that if I named them it might take away from the actual story or confuse the reader into thinking they were important locations when the are really just are irrelevant settings.   But I do see you point now.

Thanks!  Now back to my Pubs!  Err.. The Huntsmen and The Back Alley Pub  :)

IMO, all locations and all Slugs are very important.  I always say to be as detailed as you can.  It makes for a more enjoyable and believable read.  Not naming places adn characters is a surefire sign of lazy writing.

Don't use numbers. It's just flat out cheap writing. Anything is better than numbers. I think you'd want to name your bars. I mean if you had a bar for real, wouldn't you want to give it a cool name? Well, for all intents and purposes, you do have your own bar because it's in your script. If you don't want to name your bars, you could at least differentiate them by their appearance. Maybe one's a sports bar. A dive. Whatever.

If you're not talking about bars but rather locations that would be a little more difficult to differentiate, say interrogation rooms or hospital rooms or something, maybe you could go with numbers but try not to if you can help it.

Same goes for characters. Don't use numbers. They're just no good on the eyes.

Of course, you could always have a little fun with numbers

THE WONTON BAR and TIMBUKTU

RED UNICORN and TRAVELING PEAR

ACES and DEUCE'S

STAG'S and MATES PUB

THE BEAR HALL and DAILY COMMUNION



;)

I'd try to avoid having 'Irrelevant' settings altogether. If it doesnt matter then why are there 2 pubs? Why just not 1 pub? Why a pub at all?
I'm guessing there's a reason for the pubs - so you would be best naming/differentiating however it fits whats going on.

:)

Let us not forget the double deuce, Ray.  A wonderful establishment with fine bouncers and coolers.