You can use up to five different elements in your shot headings. These are most commonly referred to as SLUG LINES and are always in CAPS. You can include the following in your slug lines:

  1. Interior or Exterior
  2. Location
  3. Shot Type
  4. Shot Subject
  5. Time of Day (Day or Night)
  6. Misc. (Time, Date, Weather, Continuous Action, Flashback)

Slug lines can contain all of the above in just one line:

INT. JOEL’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – CLOSE ON STEUBEN EGG – NIGHT

Or just one:

JOEL

When writing your slug line, remember this: provide all the necessary information in as few words as possible. For detailed information on each element of a slug line, click on the above links to learn more.

William Robert Rich
William Robert Rich

William Robert Rich is a story analyst, screenwriter, and co-author of Story Maps: The Films of Christopher Nolan. He's currently based in Austin, Texas.

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