Screenwriting : Sluglines by Stephanie Elie

If multiple sluglines are part of the same related "sequence" of scenes, I use DAY or NIGHT on the first one and CONTINUOUS on the rest. I only use MORNING or EVENING if it's important to the scene, like daybreak or sunset. Usually, the context of the scene makes the additional clue moot and I just say DAY or NIGHT.

Stephanie, if scenes take place in one location, I'll write scene headings like this:

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Write action

KITCHEN

Write action

BEDROOM

Write action

Also, I only write DAY or NIGHT in a scene heading. I write things in action descriptions to show it's morning, afternoon, etc.

Here is an example

INT. DIVE BAR - NIGHT

to

EXT. DIVE BAR PARKING LOT

I didn't include the Night in this case because it's just moving outside...

I would include night because the location changes from inside to outside.

Think of it as light.

DAY, NIGHT, DUSK, DAWN all have specific light and specific looks.

You also have to orientate the reader. A woman walking down a street at night has a perceived risk as the asshole ratios go up at night.

Lighting is very technical and essential to clearly Emphasize the time of day. So it is necessary when switching from day to night. You should include all times of the day as it all has different kind of light. Dawn, afternoon, evening, DAy, Night,

The only time you wouldn't need it is if there is a "CONTINUOUS" that extends the information from one slug to the next. Also, Craig D Griffiths is right, there are other times of day that can help to break it up. Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Best to get into the habit of always using it as it will pay dividends when you're writing for production.

Try to use MORNING / EVENING sparingly as these are incredibly limiting logistically.

Keep in mind that exterior night scenes require an entire crew shift change which will likely take a whole day out production in terms of downtime.

The whole white space thing has gone way too far with some people.

I love you guys. I got feedback telling me not to include the time of day and I was like whaaaa?

Stephanie - the answer to your question is not always. I'm gonna take some flak for this; but look to your script for the answer. If it's obvious - no you don't need it. As an example: EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT, action moves to INT. KITCHEN, then you probably don't need it but if it's EXT. BACKYARD - NIGHT and the action jumps to INT. LONDON TOWNHOUSE NIGHT. Then you probably need it. It's just simpler to include it on every scene header.

Basically stick to DAY or NIGHT unless deviation is necessary to the storyline. Vampire flicks often use DAWN or DUSK when necessary to the story. If the audience knows that the bomb is set to 7:00pm the scene header might read INT. RESTAURANT BOOTH - 6:58pm.

Basically the DAY NIGHT designation is useful to the story and crew loading the grip truck.

@Doug That I have been playing it myself. @Jessica interesting that you basically got the opposite feedback I did. LOL.

I've had a lot of coverage of my scripts, including formatting feedback, and I have never been told to remove DAY/NIGHT from my sluglines. The only exceptions are CONTINUOUS and LATER, and with LATER, if you are changing from DAY to NIGHT, for example, it would be NIGHT - LATER. Hope this helps!

Dan - generally true but transitional sub scenes may incorporate a time stamp - look to the script/story for your answer. I hope you all understand that there no hard & fast rules to these sorts of questions.

i would say always

keep in mind some readers will skip to page 70 and start reading.