• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Screenwriting.io

Screenwriting.io

Answering basic questions about screenwriting.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index
Generic filters
Exact matches only

What is a slug?

Tagged: formatting, scene headings, screenplay, screenwriting, script, scriptwriting, structure, terms

A slug or slugline (or “slug line”) is an uppercase line of text with a blank line above and below it.

While the term slugline can be used interchangeably with scene heading, it more often refers to an “intermediary slugline,” which is used to break up and re-focus a longer scene, or to point out an important detail or new element.

Just as Colton has finished wiping most of the peanut butter from his armpits, a

SWARM OF BEES

descends from the air conditioning vent.

Many screenwriters use sluglines in place of SHOT or INSERT. For example, if Sally receives a text message that we read, it may be set off with the slug “ON HER PHONE SCREEN” before the message content, and the slug “BACK TO SCENE” after.

You will often see slugs used as elements of a montage.

This post on writing fight scenes provides more examples of slugs.

More from johnaugust.com

  • Sensible sluglines
  • Okay to use bold for scene headers?
  • Keeping track of time
  • Formatting the faux-documentary
  • Can I go beyond DAY and NIGHT?

Answer Index

script scriptwriting screenwriting screenplay formatting terms film structure presentation writing business software TV WGA Final Draft length characters guild credits union FDR FDX scene headings dramatic theory outlines adaptations arbitration producers highland pdf fountain guru Celtx managers Movie Magic awards agents rights pitching directors iPad iPhone festival short film prelap

Primary Sidebar

Switching from Final Draft to Highland 2

Switching from Final Draft
to Highland 2 – Get the PDF

© 2023 Screenwriting.io — All Rights Reserved.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index