INT. BOOKSTORE, or something better?
I am a fifteen year old living just outside of Washington, D.C. I hope to one day be a television producer, but also a film screenwriter. Thanks for your advice about writing the scenes I want to write (not necessarily in order) on paper before typing them on the computer. I felt stupid not thinking about that, but once I used that technique, the first draft of my screenplay came together in about three weeks!
Anyway, I’m not really trying to give a testimonial here, just asking a question and giving my thanks, so here goes: I’m writing the second draft of my screenplay, and I have a slugline situation. For the master, could I write “INT. BARNES AND NOBLE – NIGHT” instead of “INT. BOOKSTORE – NIGHT”. I thought that maybe giving a specific location, even if it wasn’t shot there, would add more of a realism, or connection, with the reader. Even if there’s simply a little bit more of a connection. Is there any con-side of doing this?
– Tim
Your instinct is right: being a little more specific helps the reader immediately understand the location, and saves you from having to throw a line of scene description explaining what kind of bookstore it is.
The only case where the comes back to bite you is when the line producer calls you, frantic: “We can’t get Barnes and Noble! It won’t fit the schedule! You have to rewrite the scene!” And so you end up spitting out colored revision pages that waste everyone’s time.
That’s why I tend to split the difference when I can. Instead of “BOOKSTORE” or “BARNES AND NOBLE,” try “CHAIN BOOKSTORE.” The reader gets what you are trying to say, and the line producer won’t hyperventilate.
For Shazam!, I just wrote a scene that takes place “INT. STARBUCK’S-LIKE COFFEE SHOP.” It should be clear to the line producer, production designer and everyone else that it doesn’t have to be Starbucks. It just needs that vibe.
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August 14th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
AHA!! So Captain Nazi sets out to annihilate the population by poisoning the coffee! You just gave away a vital story point, August! AintItCool here I come…
August 14th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Man, a 15 year old writing screenplays…who also sounds like he knows what he’s doing and has an instinct for it, that’s awesome. Keep it up Tim.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Someone beat me to the Captain Nazi – coffee joke? Damn it. I don’t know why I bother to get out bed in the morning.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Congrats on the FOX deal John. Sounds like a fantastic set-up and I hope it turns out wonderfully for all involved. Also, I watched Go for the first time today(I know, pretty pathetic) and let me just say that I think it’s absolutely fantastic. Seen so many of the horribly done rip-offs, which is probably why I waited so long to see it, but it was awesome! Casting Sarah Polley was a great choice.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Or: INT. SCARBUTT’S COFFEE SHOP.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
John,
I’ve got a follow-up to Tim’s question. You said that writing a more specific “INT. X” allows you to get away from having to throw in a line of scene description. Is it a bad idea TO put in a line of description to highlight some of the aesthetics of the place in order to draw the reader into the environment more?
August 17th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Daniel (#6):
It’s never a bad idea to give a sense of the place. But if you can avoid describing the very basics of a location by using a more specific slugline, then your first line of description can be used to set up character, mood, or situation.
August 18th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Awesome. Really helpful. Thanks, John.