Hey friends, I usually don't get too hung up on the nitty gritty of screenplay formatting, but have one that I've been pondering and would love your thoughts. As part of a screenwriting competition, I received positive feedback on my script from an accomplished, award-winning writer and filmmaker. They really liked the script and gave it high enough marks for it to be a Finalist in a highly competitive contest. I received few notes on things to improve, but one suggestion was to make the scene headings bold and underlined to enhance the readability of the script. I was taught all caps, plain font, not underlined, not bolded. So, I am pretty sure this would be a nonstandard format. However, if someone who is so accomplished is giving me this note, I feel like I have to take it. What do you think? Would this be a distraction to you? Would it seem less professional? Or do you think it could help break up the scenes or make it more readable?
Screenwriting : Sluglines/scene headings: Bold and underlined? by Brad Cooper
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3 people like this
As long as you are consistent, It does not bother me as a reader when I read. Others? Maybe. I do not do it but no reason you cannot.
4 people like this
In a feature spec script, by the official rules, normally I would say no, but nowadays I could imagine it's not a capital offence. I see many people do it, although that doesn't automatically tell you it's 'a' right way to do.
Would it bother me, no.
You can find all the 'official' rules in the (latest edition) of The Hollywood Standard.
4 people like this
Bold slug lines have been creeping up on formatting for the last ten or fifteen years or so. It makes reading on electronic devices a pleasant experience. It’s starting to become the industry standard.
3 people like this
Christopher Phillips Thanks, just seeing bold, but no underlines? Have you been using it?
2 people like this
L. Tom Deaver Thanks much.
2 people like this
Thanks Rutger Oosterhoff . Hey, I know the author of that one, I should ask him. =)
3 people like this
...Really, that's cooll!!
3 people like this
I've been seeing a lot of writers bold their sluglines, Brad Cooper. It's not a distraction to me, and it doesn’t seem less professional. I think it could help break up scenes and make it more readable. I prefer regular sluglines because I use bold and underlines for other things in my scripts, so bolding and underlining sluglines would be overdoing it.
4 people like this
I never used to bold my sluglines, but when I sold a script, the director asked me to. So, now I bold. However, I never underline sluglines as I think they clutter the page.
7 people like this
People have this dilemma all the time, but imagine passing on a great script because the formatting of the sluglines 'distracted you'. Just imagine how dumb that thought actually is and how long someone like that would last in the business.
2 people like this
Thanks much, everyone. Great feedback. I think I'll try bolding (not underlining) the slugs for now. I'll let you know if I hear back one way or another. =)
2 people like this
I don’t read scripts that have bold, underlined scene headings. I ask the writer to remove them (as well as any “we see, we hear”).I also will not submit any script to the studios with bold, underlined scene headings from any writer I have an agreement with. It should be a clean page.
4 people like this
I do it all the time. If someone doesn't want to read my script, I could care less.
2 people like this
You're welcome, Brad Cooper.
6 people like this
Brad Cooper some of the recent Oscar nominated scripts have bold and underline. I guess it’s a thing for now. That and cover page art.
2 people like this
Thanks again, everyone. I wouldn't have asked if an Oscar-winning filmmaker didn't give me the note about using bold sluglines. Oh, and fellow writers, it's ""couldn't care less." Sorry, but I saw it twice above and I couldn't resist. =) Write on!
3 people like this
People that get hung up on minor formatting hiccups are overlooking the bigger picture. Is it a good story...
2 people like this
I've thought of doing scene headings in bold, because I do think it enhances readability and just looks better, but never dared to do it as a submission.