I'm writing a Sci-fi script set on a spaceship in space. How do you write the slug lines when it's really neither day or night? I looked at several scripts (Alien, Armageddon, Starship Trooper and Galaxy Quest) and they just leave off the "Day or Night" is that the accepted method?
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Just leave off "Day or Night". That the accepted method.
I'd leave out Day/Night but always be considering I may need to suggest a time in the day in the action lines to bring context to story. So this could be done by setting a scene at breakfast to suggest morning or having drinks to suggest evening.
Alternatively for day/night distinction, you could apply the use of red lights vs normal lights like a Navy ship would use. Red lights are turned on at night in corridors that could be exposed to the outside, berthing compartments and the bridge. The wavelength propagates shorter distances, minimizing the risk of being detected visually. It's a potential factor for the crew as well. Not having a physical means to set circadian rhythms can be crazy-making. When I was in the Navy, we used to do six hours on six hours off without light changes. When you got up to go on watch, you never knew what time it was. It dramatically compounded fatigue factors and added emotional stress... so if such things are plot points. I recently wrote such a space station based script and used no day/night distinctions. No complaints from festivals or readers.
Philip that's a great idea. I have several scenes that would work better as "night" scenes where the bulk of the crew is resting and only a skeleton watch is in place. Although I think I'll just use dimmed or partial lighting rather than red. Thanks!
Glad it's helpful.
I saw a script they were left out altogether. Reader has to pick up the order from the story anyway because there are no days and nights so you don't really need them. ?
Day/night serves two purposes... Indicate a time frame in the story. Assist in setting up days out of days/shooting schedules. If your story is set in spaceship is the time frame relevant to the story? if the answer is no then leave it off. In Star Trek they gave a star date in each episode as a reference point.
Another take on it. From Tammy G: " Tammy G 9:13 PM No - outer space is the one place where you can leave off the lighting (DAY/NIGHT) - but once you're on a space ship INT. go back to convention."