Question about INT. and EXT.

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  • Question about INT. and EXT.

    Some more elementary questions...I am so green.

    After INT. or EXT. I know you're suppose to put the place and then the time of day, however, how descriptive can I make the place? For example, I am writing a practice script on the Merchant house. In the beginning two friends are standing in front of the house in NYC. So do I put...

    EXT. New York City - Evening

    or

    EXT. Outside the Merchant House - Evening

    or

    EXT. New York City - Outside The Merchant House - Evening

  • #2
    Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

    EXT. MERCHANT HOUSE - NEW YORK CITY - DAY

    Keep your time of day descriptions to DAY or NIGHT, they're primarily there as a lighting direction. If you want to indicate evening, you are best to do it in the description.




    Glenn.

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    • #3
      Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

      GBarlow is right re: your slugline and, just to give a reason for the order (which I found helpful to keep it straight) is that you go from closest to further out, like a kid addressing a letter to Grandma:

      EXT. MY HOUSE - MY SUBURB - MY STATE - MY COUNTRY - MY PLANET - MY UNIVERSE . NIGHT

      There is method in the madness!!

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      • #4
        Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

        Interesting.

        I would write:

        EXT. NEW YORK CITY - MERCHANT HOUSE - DAY

        The other logical reason: When you sort the Scene Headings all the NYC locations would be grouped together.
        "I am the story itself; its source, its voice, its music."
        - Clive Barker, Galilee

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        • #5
          Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

          We went through this discussion (general to specific, or specific to general?) about three or four years ago. Someone finally quoted an authority or at least spoke authoritatively. However, I have forgotten which way we finally went.

          In any case, though, I do not think it really matters as long as you are consistent. I like the method that TwoBrad recommends, as in:

          INT. WHITE HOUSE â€- OVAL OFFICE â€- NIGHT

          It just seems logical that in the above, if you wanted to mention Washington, you would do it like this:

          INT. WASHINGTON â€- WHITE HOUSE â€- OVAL OFFICE â€- NIGHT

          Anyhoo ...

          Yes, I am really ComicBent. I can't hide any longer.

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          • #6
            Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

            Originally posted by RRStroud
            It just seems logical that in the above, if you wanted to mention Washington, you would do it like this:

            INT. WASHINGTON â€- WHITE HOUSE â€- OVAL OFFICE â€- NIGHT

            Anyhoo ...

            Though personally I definitely wouldn't use the city in an INT slug. EXT, maybe but only if for some reason the macro location was not readily apparent in the action or if it was a general shot of said City.
            http://wasitsomethingiwrote.blogspot.com/

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            • #7
              Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

              OR

              INT. WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE (WASHINGTON) -- DAY

              OR

              INT. WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE -- DAY

              SUPER: Washington, DC

              Most people are already aware of where the White House is located. Especially if you're selling to a little place located in the same country called Hollywood.

              OR

              EXT. MERCHANT HOUSE (NEW YORK CITY) -- NIGHT

              OR

              EXT. NEW YORK STREET -- MERCHANT HOUSE -- NIGHT

              OR

              If there is specific reference to the time or period in history...

              EXT. NEW YORK STREET -- MERCHANT HOUSE (1926) -- NIGHT

              BTN
              "Only he is an emancipated thinker who is not afraid to write foolish things.-
              -Chekhov

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              • #8
                Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                Okay, then, I guess it was specific to general after all. And maybe that is better, when you stop and think about it for a while. You've convinced me. I am always willing to be corrected.

                Unfortunately, my old computer, on which I had all sorts of notes about these things, crashed a year ago ... and of course I did not have that stuff backed up.

                As for Washington and White House, I used that as an example that everyone could relate to. Actually, though, I do think one should never assume any knowledge on the part of a reader.

                Yes, I am really ComicBent. I can't hide any longer.

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                • #9
                  Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                  The Oval Office is what actually gives it away - if it were the opening scene The White House could be anywhere - there are quite a few of them, public and private - not least of which it is another name for the The Winter Palace (the one in Russia, just to be pedantic.)

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                  • #10
                    Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                    FYI,

                    From the Screenwriting Format Example on the Nicholl site:

                    INT. DRISKILL HOTEL ENTRANCE HALL - PHONE BOOTH - DAY
                    "I am the story itself; its source, its voice, its music."
                    - Clive Barker, Galilee

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                    • #11
                      Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                      Originally posted by TwoBrad Bradley
                      FYI,

                      From the Screenwriting Format Example on the Nicholl site:

                      INT. DRISKILL HOTEL ENTRANCE HALL - PHONE BOOTH - DAY
                      I admit it, you're right. In fact that seems to be the only double-barrelled slug in there - I must have got it from somewhere else - it's the only one I reference for formatting regularly so I guess I assumed it was from there - been a while since I queried slugs. I know I read it in something short I printed out (I can see it on the page) probably an article I picked up somewhere.

                      I guess that means you just shouldn't listen to me!!

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                      • #12
                        Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                        So its agreed that is from general to specific?

                        What about when I mention a location, such as:

                        EXT. - NEW YORK CITY - SECLUDED ALLEY WAY - NIGHT

                        and the movie takes plce in New York City, next time there is an EXT. scene do I have to include "NEW YORK CITY" again?

                        or...

                        I am working on a script, and there is a scene in which the main character (Owen) peeps through his window shades at two men. Is that a whole other scene when he sees the two men in which I have to write INT. etc even though its his POV from his window?

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                        • #13
                          Re: Question about INT. and EXT.

                          Assuming that your entire story is set in NYC, one mention is enough. Even better, if you can mention the NYC part in a line of description, you solve the entire problem...

                          "He steps away from the window, reveals the New York City skyline beyond."

                          Or something like that...


                          Regarding the POV question...it depends where the camera is located (since that is what the INT/EXT directions really refer to). If we are looking at the men from outside and up to the window and the protag, it is clearly an EXT shot. But, given the way you describe the scene, it seems more likely that we (the camera/audience) are looking out the window at the men - therefore an INT camera location.


                          Glenn

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