Screenwriting : Master Scene Heading or Slugline - Back To Scene by Jerry Hapeman

Master Scene Heading or Slugline - Back To Scene

When writing two, or even three scenes or more which coincide with one another as one, in a sense, first - those Master Scenes are written, but when I go back to one of those scenes, do I write a master scene heading with back to scene to clarify back to where we are? Or even as we keep going back and forth, do I even need to write Back To Scene as long as its clear... or??

Probably easier to show an example:

EXT. JOEY'S BAR - NIGHT (this scene is past, but not a flashback, just telling his story)

Joey doing his thing,,, telling patrons about his day

EXT. PARK - DAY (this scene takes us to the present)

People walk their dogs... Joey walks his dog

EXT. JOEY'S BAR - NIGHT - BACK TO SCENE?

Joey continues rambling...

EXT. PARK - DAY - BACK TO SCENE

Joey continues walking dog

While this is not my scene nor story but merely an example, I don't think this falls into the messy category of Series of Shots or Montage? Would the above be correct or use slug lines... or what would be easier - as in my story, my narrator's story unfolds and pieces of the puzzle are put together (mystery story). Is this the best approach heading-wise or is there something smarter, simpler...? Are there any screenplay examples that may show this in various styles?

THANKS!!

Kiril Maksimoski

So, if multiple events are happening same time on different areas just use "same time" at the end of each slugline...

Dan MaxXx

Post a page so we can see how you are formatting the page.

Eric Hessiser "Arrival" is a great read. On the page, the flash-forward scenes read like flashbacks but readers only discovers the time shift in the last scene.

Only took him 20-years to make Arrival :))

Suzy Miller

Would it help to add the specific year so it’s clear what the time-geography is?

Doug Nelson

Think like a Director. Every time you strike a set and move the camera to another - it's a Master scene. You have two Master scenes: you can INTERCUT between them.

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