I have seen a few scripts with bold scene headings lately - I kind of like it because it makes the script pop a little more - at least to my eye - any thoughts on bold vs. not bold?

Bold is nice, but some people might think you're being inconsistent if you don't bold things like mini slugs and transitions.

It just helps break things up on the page.

It's a personal choice. I bold scene headings and mini slugs. Makes it easier to identify each scene. I don't like underlined though, but that too is a personal preference.

Quoted from Grandma Bear It's a personal choice. I bold scene headings and mini slugs. Makes it easier to identify each scene. I don't like underlined though, but that too is a personal preference.

Francis Ford Coppola gets away with underlining slugs!

What a clueless ruffian!

Quoted from Grandma Bear It's a personal choice. I bold scene headings and mini slugs. Makes it easier to identify each scene. I don't like underlined though, but that too is a personal preference.

Snap. I bold slugs, mini slugs, supers and text that the character reads (ie, newspaper headlines, etc.). Anything to grab the attention of skim-readers is a no-brainer, IMO.

Pretty much what Toby_E said :)

If they're going to skim read then I'd rather they read something else. Each to their own. I do bold camera directions and scene transitions. It's a personal choice. No right and wrong.

Haha, I knew someone would say that ;-)

But script readers are human. Their attention wanders, like it does for us all. So it's our job to grab and keep their attention.

I personally find bold slugs do this, when I'm reading other's work. As a result, I too bold mine.

I triple space my slugs. I think bold works best with the double space. If using a triple, as I do, then I believe it is overkill.

^^ That I agree with. It's an either/or thing, IMO. If you triple space slugs, the reader would have to be an idiot to miss the scene change, regardless. But I agree, bolding triple spaced slugs is definitely leaning towards the overkill side of things.

Anybody know how to do this automatically on Final draft?

If you start bolding your slugs, FD will begin to automatically bold them for you, in subsequent slugs... No idea if you can go back and automatically bold previously unbolded slugs though?

thanks all

Quoted from eldave1 thanks all

What software do you use Dave?

I've been bolding my slugs for last year or so, think it helps break up the script a little and helps me navigate as I re-read it.

Definitely a personal choice thing and I'm sticking to it, but I have had a short marked down for it in a screenwriting comp - so clearly not to the taste of all readers!

Anthony

You got marked down?  Really? :o

I suppose if everybody else has their slugs as normal, then they might think you're trying to draw attention to your script by any means necessary.

Your attempt at clarity might've been taken that way unfortunately, but at least they didn't disqualify you... or did they?  ;D

No, Max - it was a 10 section scoring system where one of the areas was Formatting, they marked it down for bold slugs as non standard... which I guess it isn't yet!

Exact comments were
SCENE HEADINGS should not be bold
SCENE HEADINGS should have DAY or NIGHT
SCENE HEADINGS should not have MORNING or other abnormal
times/lighting cues (just DAY or NIGHT)

I think I had a MORNING as a time of day too...

One readers view, and script did okay otherwise... and no one else has ever commented negatively,

Anthony

Good to hear.

Some take it as an affront to their intelligence. Like they're going to miss a scene heading, or even skim read. As a reader, I'd take it badly and would mark down for it. I'd also mark down for overuse of uppercase.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Some take it as an affront to their intelligence. Like they're going to miss a scene heading, or even skim read. As a reader, I'd take it badly and would mark down for it. I'd also mark down for overuse of uppercase.

Come on Dustin, you love a bit of bold! ;D

There are just several reasons to not make scene headings bold. To me, the most important is that it's an eye catcher. If you turn the page and there's a bold slug in the upper third, you know the scene is going to end -- while the common slug is not so striking - some caps are here and there, also THE TYPEFACE LOOKS SAME and not different.

Bold slugs foreshadow a scene ends soon and with that changes expectations, hurts the reading experience of surprise, tension etc etc...

Some scripts I triple space before, some genres need that imo...

perhaps some input to think about... ;-) Have a nice we

Quoted from PrussianMosby There are just several reasons to not make scene headings bold. To me, the most important is that it's an eye catcher. If you turn the page and there's a bold slug in the upper third, you know the scene is going to end -- while the common slug is not so striking - some caps are here and there, also THE TYPEFACE LOOKS SAME and not different. Bold slugs foreshadow a scene ends soon and with that changes expectations, hurts the reading experience of surprise, tension etc etc... Some scripts I triple space before, some genres need that imo... perhaps some input to think about... ;-) Have a nice we

I agree with you and this is an excellent catch.

I double space before Slugs always, as it helps make them standout, but not too much like BOLD Slugs do.

Each to their own, no rulebook for these things ;-)

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I've been bolding my slugs for last year or so, think it helps break up the script a little and helps me navigate as I re-read it. Definitely a personal choice thing and I'm sticking to it, but I have had a short marked down for it in a screenwriting comp - so clearly not to the taste of all readers! Anthony

Wow - weird that they would mark you down for that.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood Each to their own, no rulebook for these things ;-)

Some people seem to think so...

Quoted from Max What software do you use Dave?

Final Draft 8.01

Quoted from Max Some people seem to think so...

If judges are marking down for bolded Slugs, I'd say that would equate to a rule...no?

Quoted from Dreamscale If judges are marking down for bolded Slugs, I'd say that would equate to a rule...no?

Which is why some people seem to think so...

Ugh.

Quoted from Max Which is why some people seem to think so... Ugh.

Yeah, I don't agree with that, either.

I also think it's horseshit to mark down for using a time element other than DAY and NIGHT.  That's complete BS.

Quoted from Dreamscale Yeah, I don't agree with that, either. I also think it's horseshit to mark down for using a time element other than DAY and NIGHT.  That's complete BS.

Concur!!!!!

But there are sources that say stick with DAY or NIGHT. For example: "What a Script" says only use DAY or NIGHT unless it is a scene in space. So, there is probably some noob out there marking down scripts that use DUSK or DAWN - which in my humble opinion wold be absolutely idiotic to mark someone down on.  

It's like most things with formatting, everyone has an opinion, but there is no actual rule book - just what is considered 'standard' at a particular time... and that 'standard' is a slowly shifting and evolving ideal...

So personal opinion from reading scripts here, elesewhere, and being active on a Forum or two... BOLD slugs are increasingly popular, and I doubt they would prevent a reader/producer from getting through a good script and would detract to the scripts real detriment.

As Geoff said, same with other time elements... while DAY and NIGHT may be standard, would anyone really have an issue with DAWN or TWILIGHT?

Anthony  

Creamy bold courier font is boss tho.

Quoted from eldave1 Concur!!!!! But there are sources that say stick with DAY or NIGHT. For example: "What a Script" says only use DAY or NIGHT unless it is a scene in space. So, there is probably some noob out there marking down scripts that use DUSK or DAWN - which in my humble opinion wold be absolutely idiotic to mark someone down on.

Anybody who uses "Morning" or "Evening" in a scene header is a shit writer Dave.  Didn't you get the memo?

Whenever I see it, I flat out refuse to read the screenplay.

It takes some nerve I tell ya Dave, the fucking brass.

IMO, it's downright lazy movie making to assume every EXt shot will be simply DAY or NIGHT.  MORNING can easily come into play, and so can EVENING.

Also, IMO, it's always best to be as visual and exact as you can, especially in a Slug, which costs now extra spaces or lines.

Quoted from Dreamscale IMO, it's downright lazy movie making to assume every EXt shot will be simply DAY or NIGHT.  MORNING can easily come into play, and so can EVENING. Also, IMO, it's always best to be as visual and exact as you can, especially in a Slug, which costs now extra spaces or lines.

Seriously, unless it's Sunset and Sunrise and we're actually watching the sun peek above the horizon, or go down - what is the difference? Why would you write MORNING in place of day?

Plenty of shots get filmed when they're not actually accurate to what is specified in the slug anyway i.e., the director likes a particular hue of light for an early morning shot when it's actually an early evening shot on the page.

Give me an example where you would be correct in writing EVENING for example, in place of NIGHT.

P.S. Anthony, I wouldn't be entering that particular comp again that marked you down for Bold headers. Talk about anal retention.

Quoted from Max Anybody who uses "Morning" or "Evening" in a scene header is a shit writer Dave.  Didn't you get the memo? Whenever I see it, I flat out refuse to read the screenplay. It takes some nerve I tell ya Dave, the fucking brass.

Yes, I got the memo this morning.

Quoted from eldave1 Yes, I got the memo this morning.

;D

Class.

Quoted from LC Seriously, unless it's Sunset and Sunrise and we're actually watching the sun peek above the horizon, or go down - what is the difference? Why would you write MORNING in place of day? Plenty of shots get filmed when they're not actually accurate to what is specified in the slug anyway i.e., the director likes a particular hue of light for an early morning shot when it's actually an early evening shot on the page. Give me an example where you would be correct in writing EVENING for example, in place of NIGHT.

Uhhh...really?

How about a flick that happens over a single day?  Or scenes that occur from the very beginning of the day throughout the day and into the night?

True, that movie makers routinely shoot scenes in different parts of the day, but also true that it's often a mistake and called out in critique of the film.

Bottom line is that if a scene is playing out in the morning, why wouldn't you want to let your readers know it's morning?  Why?

It's not just about the actual lighting, because in a Slug, we have the ability to release information to our readers at zero cost in terms of lines and spaces.  Keep it real.  Be exact.  Be detailed and visual.

You get me?   :P

Quoted from LC Seriously, unless it's Sunset and Sunrise and we're actually watching the sun peek above the horizon, or go down - what is the difference? Why would you write MORNING in place of day? Plenty of shots get filmed when they're not actually accurate to what is specified in the slug anyway i.e., the director likes a particular hue of light for an early morning shot when it's actually an early evening shot on the page. Give me an example where you would be correct in writing EVENING for example, in place of NIGHT. P.S. Anthony, I wouldn't be entering that particular comp again that marked you down for Bold headers. Talk about anal retention.

I think Anthony got shafted in that comp innit, and it is a case of anal retention.  If he bolded random shit for no reason, then I would be more understanding of the situation.

And Ant, I ain't trying to treat you like a dickhead or anything, but did you read that rule before you entered?  If you didn't then it's fairplay because who would've thought, right?

Janet Clarke, a cool ass chick who handles stuff on this site ect, bolds her slugs as well, and I believe she's a defender of bold slugs also.

That creamy bold font is just something to admire, don't ya think?  Everything is sectioned off with each scene, but your eye will catch that the scene is about to come to an end.

Quoted from LC Give me an example where you would be correct in writing EVENING for example, in place of NIGHT.

I mostly use night and day, but I will use Dusk and Dawn.

simple examples:

someone watching a sunrise
someone watching sunset.
An early morning military raid

etc

IMO, sometimes a specific time of day can be important to convey a scene and it gets tedious to keep using "the clock reads 5:00 am.

Put in this way, if I am not allowed to ever use DAWN, then I will be in mourning. And I am not going to exclusively use NIGHT, evening if it kills me :)





        

I dunno...

DAY and NIGHT is perhaps an oversimplification of time and mood, some may argue.

Don't ask me jack shit about that because I have no fucking idea.

RESPONSE TO DAVE:

That's my point. Unless we're actually watching a sunset or a sunrise it doesn't appear to be needed.

You'd surely have to be consistent too. If your script has MORNING but then further down it's listed as DAY... Get what I mean. Thanks, Dave.

Quoted from JC Cleveland (Uhh...really)

Yeah, really. I'm seeking clarification. If you really believe you have valuable info to impart why not just elaborate instead of prefacing with a 'duh' response, implying they're an idiot for wanting more info.

That's the point at which I'll go 'uhh...really' and move on to someone who's actually happy to expound upon what they've just said without editorializing.

I'll expound on what I said Libby...

"I don't have a fucking clue either way, so don't ask me.."

Editorializing is too big a word for me.

;D

Quoted from Max I'll expound on what you said Libby... "I don't have a fucking clue either way, so don't ask me.." Editorializing is too big a word for me. ;D

Thanks for your input, Max. Always entertaining.  ;D

And further to what Jeff pointed out. I'm in total agreement if a movie is taking place over the span of one day. If it's not, and/or we're just talking 'sunset' 'sunrise' moments, then I fear I'm going to get confused at times - perhaps the reader might too... So unless there's a specific reason for it I think I'll stick with DAY and NIGHT.

Lol, you crack me up Libby.  I can always vibe with the Aussies I feel, and I feel as if the British aren't that far removed from people such as yourself.

I know everything about Australia because I watch Neighbours.

Quoted from Max Lol, you crack me up Libby.  I can always vibe with the Aussies I feel, and I feel as if the British aren't that far removed from people such as yourself. I know everything about Australia because I watch Neighbours.

Oh dear. If you'd said you watched Home And Away as well, then all would be well, but without it I fear a gaping big hole of cultural knowledge.  ;D How's that for some expounding?!

And you're beating us in the Ashes. Another, oh dear.  ;D

Libby, did I not expand on this and offer exactly why other ime elements can be important?  I thought I did...

Quoted from LC Oh dear. If you'd said you watched Home And Away as well, then all would be well, but without it I fear a gaping big hole of cultural knowledge.  ;D How's that for some expounding?! And you're beating us in the Ashes. Another, oh dear.  ;D

I don't care about Cricket lol....

If it ain't Wrestling, MMA or Snooker... I don't give a flying uff.

Tennis? Aiight.

Olympics? Aiight

Cricket?  Fuck off.

Quoted from Dreamscale Libby, did I not expand on this and offer exactly why other ime elements can be important?  I thought I did...

I commented back that I could see your POV if applied to a movie/script that spans one day - or watching a sunset/sunrise. Other than that I said I do believe it could get confusing and inconsistent.

Fen, I agree re the cricket. It used to be on all day every day over the Summer. Now I have the luxury of saying, no thanks. Love the Olympics! ;D

Quoted from LC I commented back that I could see your POV if applied to a movie/script that spans one day - or watching a sunset/sunrise. Other than that I said I do believe it could get confusing and inconsistent. Fen, I agree re the cricket. It used to be on all day every day over the Summer. Now I have the luxury of saying, no thanks. Love the Olympics! ;D

Olympics is incredible.

If Ronda Rousey tried her hand at Judo again, I think she could get a gold medal this time around.  I think she's content with where she is tho, but I know that elusive gold medal haunts her.

How can you be that competitive and gloss over that? Know what I mean?

Quoted from LC I commented back that I could see your POV if applied to a movie/script that spans one day - or watching a sunset/sunrise. Other than that I said I do believe it could get confusing and inconsistent.

How and why could it possibly be confusing, when it's an exact detail?  What am I possibly missing here?

When it's no longer MORNING, you simply switch to DAY.  Please explain...

Quoted from Dreamscale How and why could it possibly be confusing, when it's an exact detail?  What am I possibly missing here? When it's no longer MORNING, you simply switch to DAY.  Please explain...

Jeez, now you're sounding like one of our politicians.

Over the course of one day it isn't confusing. I'll leave it at that.

Quoted from LC Jeez, now you're sounding like one of our politicians. Over the course of one day it isn't confusing. I'll leave it at that.

LOL...

I'm far from one our Politicians.

Sorry, if I came off as rude, but I honestly don't understand how being visual and detailed could ever be confusing.

Quoted from Max Olympics is incredible. If Ronda Rousey tried her hand at Judo again, I think she could get a gold medal this time around.  I think she's content with where she is tho, but I know that elusive gold medal haunts her. How can you be that competitive and gloss over that? Know what I mean?

They are doped. All of them are doped. Wake up.

Quoted from Dreamscale Sorry, if I came off as rude, but I honestly don't understand how being visual and detailed could ever be confusing.

Thanks for the apology re tone - I appreciate it. :)

I think I need to examine the whole DAY, NIGHT, MORNING, EVENING thing, a bit more.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Anybody know how to do this automatically on Final draft?

As somebody who's been using bold headings for a while, you click Format at the top, then click elements. A small popup should appear, press scene heading, then font... Then 'set font'. You'll see a 'font style' menu, simply click bold and okay and you'll be done. I never remember it being this complicated actually. ;D

I also like to change the spacing of slugs, so instead of it skipping two lines, it skips one. This is primarily because with bold slugs, it's very obvious when a new slug has emerged. Another thing I like to do is change transitions to bold... But I haven't seen anybody else do that before, so it may just be me.

I didn't realize there was a setting in Final Draft, weird that I've never noticed it.  I normally don't mess with the element settings.

Quoted from Max I didn't realize there was a setting in Final Draft, weird that I've never noticed it.  I normally don't mess with the element settings.

Is that really surprising, Max?  LOL!!!    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Day or night only apparently.
So you just suggest or describe if it is the crack of dawn or if it's dusk in the action line...? Why not put it in the slugline then?

Just curious as to what kind of films these screenwriting guru people are basing this on -- I mean a vampire film might depend on night, day, dawn, dusk as settings.

These so-called "expert writers" seem to mention the same ol' crappy films that I have no interest in, so I take their advise with a large pinch of salt.

Quoted from Max I don't care about Cricket lol.... Cricket?  Fuck off.

:o :o :o

How could you say that to the noblest of sports, the closest thing to tactical warfare played over five days.

Ok, dull as sh@t unless you like that kind of stuff. ::)

Luckily for cricket, they still allow you to drink at the game so it's basically a day on the piss for most spectators - whoopee  :D

Quoted from nawazm11 Another thing I like to do is change transitions to bold... But I haven't seen anybody else do that before, so it may just be me.

Been doing that since before I started bolding my slugs  ;D

You're not alone, bro.

Quoted from nawazm11 As somebody who's been using bold headings for a while, you click Format at the top, then click elements...

I didn't know this could be done and your post led to me uncovering a few other format gems. Thanks so much for the info, Mo. :)

No worries, all, I hope it was useful. Libby -- it's a great tool. I also very much prefer Final Draft's font to other courier fonts. If I use another program, I always change the font style to Final Draft courier.

And Toby, I recently noticed that on your script! Join the (small) club.

Is the shade of the font really that important? I'll keep my cash and stick with the free programs. Celtx works just fine for me. I would like to be able to make fancy title pages, but I'd rather do without if it means I get to save money.

I don't understand why people pay for this stuff. I'd rather use an Office template than pay for software that does the same thing. The paid for software even has a distraction free mode. What's the point? Why not just use a free, distraction-free program?

Quoted from SteveDiablo Day or night only apparently. So you just suggest or describe if it is the crack of dawn or if it's dusk in the action line...? Why not put it in the slugline then? Just curious as to what kind of films these screenwriting guru people are basing this on -- I mean a vampire film might depend on night, day, dawn, dusk as settings. These so-called "expert writers" seem to mention the same ol' crappy films that I have no interest in, so I take their advise with a large pinch of salt.

I believe somewhere down the road the new standard will be to be as specific as possible:

INT. HOUSE - 9:00 a.m

I use bold and underlined scene headings all the time, I think it makes the read a little easier because it adds some visible structure to it. It's like comparing an unformatted text written in notepad.exe to a text written in Word which uses headers.
Most people do this in contests now as well.

Quoted from DustinBowcot Is the shade of the font really that important? I'll keep my cash and stick with the free programs. Celtx works just fine for me. I would like to be able to make fancy title pages, but I'd rather do without if it means I get to save money.

I think this depends on what you've been using. For me, after having tried many programs, I just couldn't get the same fluidity that I get with Final Draft. Although keep in mind, I haven't used celtx in years. Regarding the shade of the courier font, I do agree that it's definitely a small gripe, but when you're reading half a dozen screenplays on end on a white screen, I'd infinitely prefer a thicker font.

Quoted from nawazm11 I'd infinitely prefer a thicker font.

Honestly, I'd just prefer a well executed story.

At one point, because I was using an old Linux OS (older) the scripts would download all in bold and in italics. Throughout the entire script. I remember reading several features like that during a 7WC here, and none of it really mattered unless the story was bad.

I've never had anyone complain about my font before.

I do think bold headers are fine though. I would only mark them down if triple spaced. Not that my marks count for anything, but you know what I mean. I bold camera directions because they are double-spaced and I want them to stand separate from the story.

I suppose we all have out little things that hold some type of relevance in our minds.

nawazm11 - I use Trelby which is also free and has much more functions than CeltX. I used CeltX at the start as well but when I found Trelby and tried it, I decided to stick with it.