screenwriting

October 18, 2007 8:54 AM

In screenwriing, how does one write a slug line for a scene that consists of dialogue on a black frame?
posted by jne1813 to writing & language (18 comments total)

I would do it like so:

OVER BLACK

A man's voice, muffled:

MAN
Dude, we've got to get out of this freakin' closet-
posted by thehmsbeagle at 9:09 AM on October 18, 2007

Oh wait! Wait, did you mean, literally dialog printed on a black frame? I'm confused.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 9:10 AM on October 18, 2007

No, voices on a black frame.

So rather than and Int. or Ext. I should just put OVER BLACK ?
posted by jne1813 at 9:11 AM on October 18, 2007

Yes. In my experience sluglines aren't as crucial as people are told they are: yes, if it goes into production, the locations guy will need them to be able to make lists of sets and whatnot, but really you're just aiming for a script that the person reading it can follow and visualize. Don't worry about it too much.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 9:19 AM on October 18, 2007

Yeah would just say:

INT. CLOSET.

or

INT. CLOSET.

Inky blackness covers everything.

MAN
Dude,....
posted by UMDirector at 9:21 AM on October 18, 2007

Yes, but my scene has not location. it is black at first because it is the start of the film. Any more ideas?
posted by jne1813 at 9:25 AM on October 18, 2007

*no location
posted by jne1813 at 9:25 AM on October 18, 2007

I'd second thehmsbeagle. If I was reading that, I'd understand that it's an unspecified, pitch-black 'location'.
posted by Hargrimm at 9:42 AM on October 18, 2007

If it's the start of the film, OVER BLACK or BLACK SCREEN are commonly used *instead* of "FADE IN:" Like so:

BLACK SCREEN

Silence.

Then a man's voice:

                               MAN
            There are certain advantages to being a lawyer.
posted by ScarletPumpernickel at 9:42 AM on October 18, 2007

Since the location is for the actors benefit you can put it in the character description.

Mr. Stinky is a 35 yo male who is currently in a closet.
Mr.Stinky
This closet.... it's sort of dark.
posted by pg at 9:45 AM on October 18, 2007

Yeah, but my scene is on black for artistic purposes at the beginning. And then, the conversation transitions to a funeral. Here's how I'm thinking of doing it.

Since it's the start of my screenplay I will not have a slugline.

right jusitified ---->OVER BLACK:

Silence.

A young boy's voice:

[DIALOGUE]

EXT. FUNERAL - MORNING

[CONTINUATION OF DIALOGUE}
posted by jne1813 at 9:52 AM on October 18, 2007

Against black, EXT. FUNERAL - MORNING

YOUNG BOY
Meh, meh, meh meh meh meh!

FADE IN:

MEDIUM SHOT - YOUNG BOY

Description of shot

-----

That would be the most proper way to do it, but there isn't a written rule for this type of thing. I can't format for space, but you get the gist.
posted by Derek at 10:08 AM on October 18, 2007

If you need more examples, check out "Clerks" or any Tarantino flick. They generally do it over title cards, but it works over black too.
posted by Derek at 10:11 AM on October 18, 2007

I put:

A BLACK SCREEN

But really "there isn't a written rule for this type of thing" nails it. The goal of a writer's draft is to tell the story on paper in the most compelling way possible- so just do whatever you think works for the reader.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:41 AM on October 18, 2007

I'm agreeing with you, jne, that you don't want to give away the location right off the top.
Just put "OVER BLACK" as your initial slug line.
posted by Ziggurat at 10:42 AM on October 18, 2007

although,as an addendum, "directing from the page" is generally frowned upon, so you may want to shy away from things like "MEDIUM SHOT" in a writer's draft.

Feel free to describe how close "we" are to the person in question if you feel it's important, but there is no "SHOT" because it's not a movie yet. Unless this is a script you plan to produce yourself.

But even then, i find talk of "shots" and 'angles" jars me and pulls me out of the story when i'm reading a writer's draft.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:43 AM on October 18, 2007

nthing OVER BLACK. It describes what you are trying to do without hinting at location.
posted by NationalKato at 10:44 AM on October 18, 2007

I used to read scripts for studios, about a decade ago, at least a dozen or two during the week, and another dozen over the weekend. Its a miserable job.

There's a fine balance between following all the rules of form and format, and just telling your story. No weird bindings, no pictures, no creative fonts, those are real rules. On the other hand, I'd say this falls into the just tell your story category; its not a shooting script so the fewer words you use to tell your story the better. Readers love white space. If the story's good no one will ding you because your slugline is wrong.
posted by RandlePatrickMcMurphy at 12:53 PM on October 18, 2007