Sluglines, Locations, and Transitions
Scene headings orient production and reader: interior or exterior, location, and time.
High agreementA durable convention or broadly shared professional principle.
The principle
A conventional master scene heading such as INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT is broadly understood. Consistency matters more than obsessing over rare edge cases. Transitions like CUT TO are usually unnecessary because a new scene heading already implies a cut, but they remain available when the transition itself carries meaning.
Put it to work
- Use the same name for a recurring location.
- Add secondary locations only when they improve orientation.
- Reserve editorial transitions for a specific rhythm, juxtaposition, or device.
Common mistakes
- Renaming the same room across scenes.
- Stuffing action into the slugline.
- Using CONTINUOUS inconsistently.
Sources & further reading
Pitcheroo’s guidance is original synthesis. These are the main sources used for this guide.