Sluglines

A slugline, in screenwriting, is the scene heading that marks the location and time of a new scene. It serves as a top-level organizational device for the script, guiding production teams in planning sets, lighting, and scheduling, and helping readers understand when and where events occur.

A slugline, also called a scene heading, normally begins with INT. for interior or EXT. for exterior, followed by the specific location and a time of day. Example: INT. KITCHEN - DAY. In many scripts the formatting uses uppercase letters, and the ordering is location then time. The slugline appears at the start of the scene and is not part of the action or dialogue.

Sluglines provide essential, at-a-glance information and function as separators between scenes. They tell the reader when a location change happens and whether the scene occurs during the day or night, aiding planning for sets, props, and lighting, as well as actor blocking and camera work. They are typically the first element in a scene, before any description of action.

Variations and conventions can differ by market. In the United States, professional scripts commonly use uppercase INT./EXT. sluglines. In other markets, there may be more flexibility in punctuation, capitalization, or style, but the basic purpose remains the same. Sluglines are distinct from the narrative action lines that follow, and from newsroom slugs used to label articles, which are unrelated in function.

Examples include EXT. BEACH - SUNSET or INT. OFFICE - DAY. In some scripts, additional notes such as MONTAGE or specific timing may accompany or follow a slugline to indicate special sequencing or structure within the scene.