Screenwriting : Format question by Richard Stephens Ely

Richard Stephens Ely

Format question

I am somewhat confused about the right way to place SUPERIMPOSE.

Should SUPERIMPOSE: "xxxxxxxxxxx" be placed after the scene heading or after the first action description. 

I have researched this online and in the formatting books I have but get conflicting opinions on this. 

In the end, probably not all that important but I would like to get it right.

Thanks.

Craig D Griffiths

I haven't used super, but I'd put it after the description. It seems to make for a better flow.

Beth Fox Heisinger

Hi Richard. A SUPER can go either before or after a slugline, or after description, or at the end of a scene, etc... Some scripts start with a SUPER, over BLACK, for example. Would you please share more context? That would help us answer your question. :)

Beth Fox Heisinger

Also, it truly depends on the effect you are trying to create. What you wish to do. This device can be used whenever you wish to show words on the screen. :)

Jody Ellis

I always do it right before, aka SUPER: Atlanta, 1975

Chad Stroman

Depends on visually what your flow is and there are produced variations of those. Some use them as scene introductions over black (like in Moonlight) and others introduce a scene and then have the super at the bottom (like any number of period piece features). Like Beth said above and I agree, it's all about the flow and how you are trying to convey information and in what order.

Pierre Langenegger

Whenever I use SUPER, it's always after the first description paragraph for the scene. I never put it straight after the slug because I want the viewer to see the scene before I throw up a card rather than just cut to a scene and a card at exactly the same time.

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