In my script, I have a group of people traveling from room to room in a house. Do I use a master slugline like Int. INT. MRS. STRONG'S HOUSE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS/MOVING and then just let them wander or a different one for every room they go into like INT. MRS. STRONG'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT, blah blah blah. INT. MRS. STRONG'S KITCHEN- NIGHT blah blah blah. Or should it be more like INT. MRS. STRONG's HOUSE, KITCHEN - NIGHT blah blah blah, INT. MRS. STRONG'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM BLAH BLAH BLAH - DAY
Screenwriting : Use of Continuous/moving in sluglines by Krista Crawford
Use of Continuous/moving in sluglines
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Hi, Krista. ;) You could use a primary, master scene heading, and then use secondary scene headings because it all occurs at the same location, perhaps in moving action.
INT. MRS. STRONG'S HOUSE - NIGHT
action, blah blah blah....
They all follow her into the
KITCHEN
action, blah blah blah...
A loud noise draws them back into the
LIVINGROOM
action, blah, blah, blah.
etc. :)
Or you could just use action, again, because it is continuous and it all occurs in the same location—inside Mrs. Strong's house. There's not necessarily a need to slug for each room. It depends. "Bob follows Mrs. Strong into the kitchen, nipping at her heels." Etc. Lots of ways to tackle continuous action. Hope that helps!
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Agree with Dan Guardino although I would remove the "INT" in front of Kitchen if it's in the same house but then again, maybe that's needed still.
INT. MRS. STRONG'S HOUSE – NIGHT
blah, blah, blah...Mrs. Strong walks through a door into...
KITCHEN
It's cramped, cluttered blah, blah, blah...Mrs. Strong opens the backdoor and exits to...
EXT. MRS. STRONG'S BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS
I would use "CONTINUOUS" and "SAME" if the scenes are happening one after the other or simultaneously. Like Dan said if there's a break in time between one scene and the next, then it's a new scene heading.
Also, I have used having back to back scenes in the same location where time has passed as a good indicator that maybe I need to insert another scene between them in a different location. Otherwise you get the "the hands on the clock now show" or "the outside has turned from day to night" type transitions.
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Krista, we're all basically saying the same thing, give or take slightly different context and styles, because we do not have full knowledge of your written scene(s) nor do we know your creative intent, so, therefore we are making educated and practical guesses... but I'll just add some additional two cents. If it is blatantly clear to your reader within the context of your scene or related scenes, then go with the most simple formatting solution. "Over-formatting" can be redundant, seem "clinical," and bog down the story too. Be "correct," of course, but you may find that adding CONTINUOUS or extra words may not be necessary. :) Best to you!
I love this site. You guys are brilliant! Great advice here.
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I'm with Dan (see above). Becase it's a spec, if you want to pick up action in the same house, but several hours later, say at night, you don't need a whole repeat of the master scene heading, you just have a PLACE line then an action line:
KITCHEN
Later that night, Justin wakes up on the kitchen floor. Blah Blah
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Seems like you've gotten the right advice, from Beth Fox Heisinger, and Chad Stroman, but here's a great article/source that may add a little more clarity.
https://scriptmag.com/screenplays/ask-the-expert-sluglines-slugfest
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I needed some insight on this topic and Stage 32 came through once again! Thanks all! Great info!