Confusion regarding sluglines

[nouou]

Let's say I have a short montage sequence all taking place in the same house, but different rooms. Would it be necessary to write sluglines for each scene in the montage? Here's an example:

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
Bob brushes his teeth.

INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Coffee is poured into a mug.

INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Car keys are grabbed off a key hanger.

Would this be the correct way to write something like this?

 

[Solomon Chase]

I'd like to know as well. Got a scene like this in one of my scripts, although instead of a montage, it is cutting between two locations fairly quickly.

 

[David W. Richardson]

Let's say I have a short montage sequence all taking place in the same house, but different rooms. Would it be necessary to write sluglines for each scene in the montage? Here's an example:

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
Bob brushes his teeth.
 
INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Coffee is poured into a mug.
 
INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Car keys are grabbed off a key hanger.

Would this be the correct way to write something like this?

But......all those scenes take place in the SAME room. The kitchen.

 

[David W. Richardson]

Let's say I have a short montage sequence all taking place in the same house, but different rooms. Would it be necessary to write sluglines for each scene in the montage? Here's an example:

INT. KITCHEN - MORNING
Bob brushes his teeth.
 
INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Coffee is poured into a mug.
 
INT. KITCHEN - SECONDS LATER
Car keys are grabbed off a key hanger.

Would this be the correct way to write something like this?

Also "Coffee is poured into a mug" and "Car keys are grabbed off a key hanger" are poorly written. Who pours the coffee? Who grabs the keys?

If Bob does both, then it's better to say "Bob pours coffee into a mug" and "Bob grabs the car keys off a key hanger." If it is some unknown, unseen mystery person, then it would be "A hand pours coffee into a mug" or "An unidentified person grabs car keys off a key hanger."

Which doesn't answer your original question, but still...

 

[nouou]

Also "Coffee is poured into a mug" and "Car keys are grabbed off a key hanger" are poorly written. Who pours the coffee? Who grabs the keys?

If Bob does both, then it's better to say "Bob pours coffee into a mug" and "Bob grabs the car keys off a key hanger." If it is some unknown, unseen mystery person, then it would be "A hand pours coffee into a mug" or "An unidentified person grabs car keys off a key hanger."

Which doesn't answer your original question, but still...

It should be obvious that it's an example.

Ok I see how it wouldn't be necessary if it was taking place in the same room. What if it took place in a different room, or in the same room but a few hours have passed?

 

[David W. Richardson]

It should be obvious that it's an example.

Ok I see how it wouldn't be necessary if it was taking place in the same room. What if it took place in a different room, or in the same room but a few hours have passed?

If it were me, I would write a new scene for any change in either time or location. But that's just me.

 

[nantnee]

I always write a slugline for every location. For instance - if the main slugline is
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT, and the character walks to his room, immediately put a slugline stating that the character is in a new location.

There are a few ways of introducing a Montage. I typically use SERIES OF SHOTS. However, screenplays do not have an exact format, so choose what is most comfortable for you and as long as you stay consistent throughout, the reader should have no problems continuing forward.

If you want to see some examples, check out Drews script o rama. Find one of the films that you like that uses Montage and see how they structured it into their screenplay.

 

[David W. Richardson]

If you want to see some examples, check out Drews script o rama. Find one of the films that you like that uses Montage and see how they structured it into their screenplay.

You can also try www.simplyscripts.com

But keep in mind when reading a script from a well known movie, that what you're reading probably wasn't written by the screenwriter. Most of the time, what's on those sites are not scripts -- they're transcripts. Someone sat down with the video of the movie and in essence created a script of it. So how that person crafted the montage may be completely different from the way the original writers handled it.

 

[UnknownScreenwriter]

Okay...

Okay...

You threw me off since I don't brush my teeth in the kitchen... LOL.

Based on what you have here, I think you actually do have a SERIES OF SHOTS instead of a MONTAGE...

Here's why... A SERIES OF SHOTS makes up a series of short action sequences in order to move the audience quickly through time and advancing the story more economically.

A MONTAGE on the other hand is used to portray the completion of several minor but essential actions that contribute to a particular outcome and not simply showing a passage of time like a SERIES OF SHOTS. The end result of a MONTAGE should create an emotion and or relate to your theme in some way.

That's why with a SERIES OF SHOTS, you letter or number (numbers are used much less frequently) each shot.

SERIES OF SHOTS: BOB PASSES TIME IN KITCHEN

A) Bob finishes brushing his teeth at the sink.

B) Bob pours a cup of coffee.

C) Bob searches inside the refrigerator.

D) Bob rearranges the table.

E) Bob burns toast.

F) Bob feeds the cat.

SERIES OF SHOTS and MONTAGE get used incorrectly ALL THE TIME... In fact, most screenwriters use a MONTAGE when they should be using a SERIES OF SHOTS to show time passing quickly.

You COULD show the above as a MONTAGE of course IF you are attempting to provoke a particular emotion or feeling once the montage is complete. If however, you are only trying to make time pass quickly... Use the SERIES OF SHOTS.

Unk