Format: Spec vs. Shooting Script

[Jami]

I've been doing a lot of reviews lately as the result of swaps, and some trends I've noticed have me worried that I've been doing things wrong.

Several of these scripts had "continuous" in the slug line. I thought that was a shooting script thing that had to do with the camera following the protagonist continously into another room. I'm being told that this is necessary when the next scene takes place right after the scene that follows it.

The second thing is the use of "insert" when an important object is being viewed. I might write something like: A newspaper lies crumpled on the table. Its headline screams: Five Die in Bombing. But what I'm seeing is: She picks up a newspaper.
Insert: Newspaper with headline: Five Die in Bombing.

So, "continuous" and inserts. Do they belong in the spec screenplay, or not?

Thanks for playing.

Jami

[JoanEasley]

Re Insert, you can do that either way. I'd rather do it in narrative than use "INSERT," but it's perfectly acceptable.

I'd use continuous in a spec script if the situation called for it. No worse than using the slugline "LATER" when necessary.

[altoption]

I use DAY and NIGHT in my slugs. That's it. That's how I was taught. And truth be told, when I read, I barely pay attention to slugs anyway. I put important info in my action graphs and keep them lean as possible.

But you see plenty of professionals and others using CONTINUOUS, MOMENTS LATER, and all sorts of other stuff in their slugs. So, really, you're the boss.

When it comes to INSERT, I like your first example that avoids it. It looks clean on the page, and sidesteps the issue of telling the director how to shoot it, while conveying the exact same info.

In general, I like the clean look of master scenes with very few mini-slugs. To me, mini-slugs feel kind of dated and take me out of the read. But again, it's a style thing. And if I felt like it added something, I wouldn't hesitate to write INSERT.

Read scripts that have sold. Tell your story. There are no rules.

[Deus Ex Machine]

I prefer DAY or NIGHT to CONTINUOUS. This has come up many many times. Ultimately it is a writers choice and if they feel CONTINUOUS is the most effective and concise way to express what is happening then they should use it. I personally think any discussions that try to rationalize its use fall apart within two seconds so its more a personal choice than anything else.


Insert is also a personal choice. You can easily avoid it and IMHO make the read much smoother, as you can with "we see" and "we hear", but some writers feel an inexplicable need to use them. Again the choice is entirely a personal choice of style for each writer.

My 2 cents.

[Cyfress]

In all actuality the slugs are meaningless to your story. I've seen many, many great writers take major liberties in their slugs,Ex: people's names, dates, phrases...

You wanna read some wierd slugs? Open the script for Philadelphia(hanks, denzel).