Hello, A little Advice If You Will :)

[bradn]

Hey Everyone,

I'm pretty new to the forum (as you can gather from from 1 POST status :) ), so I just wanted to say hi.

I've been researching on the net like a crazy man, but cannot seem to find the answer to this. I'm currently writing an action based script, now the opening scene is really busy and I'm not sure how the format should read.

The first scene takes place on a highway, a car is being chased by two other cars, guns blazing etc, but it quickly jumps between settings e.g.

1) In first car
2) In second car
3) In first car
4) In second car
etc...

What would the slugline be? Because it takes place on a highway and it mainly focuses on what's happening in the two different cars.

Take Care

B

Oh and would it be

SLUGLINE

JON'S* CAR
blah blah blah

SUZIE'S* CAR
blah blah blah

* False names used to protect the "real" people.

[qwerty]

Not too sure what a "slug line" is, but this is how I've been taught to set scenes:

Assuming this is the homing in shot: SCENE # - EXTERIOR. HIGHWAY. NIGHT/DAY TIME.

SCENE # - INTERIOR CAR ONE

SCENE # - INTERIOR CAR TWO

SCENE # - INTERIOR CAR ONE

SCENE # - INTERIOR CAR TWO

AND IT WOULD BE SCENE # - EXTERIOR. HIGHWAY. whenever action moves from either car to outside.

[kullervo]

Qwerty, a slug line is the scene description line. INT., EXT., etc.

Bradn, you're probably over-thinking it. The slug line tells you where the camera is. Do you open with a shot inside the car? Then the slug line is INT. CAR - DAY/NIGHT. Do you open with an establishing shot? Then it will be an EXT.

The important part is that when the shot changes (inside the car to a shot of the car flying down the freeway), you change the slug line. Fast action sequences can have numerous scenes/slug lines that change quickly. Just don't try to use one slug line for the whole thing.

[Kristy101081]

The best way to handle this is probably like so...and keep in mind this is just off the top of my head so you can fill in the action how you like.

EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY/NIGHT (whatever yours is)

Two cars zoom down the highway, guns blazing and bullets flying.

INT. JON'S CAR - DAY/NIGHT

Jon looks at Suzie through the rearview mirror before firing off another round.

INT. SUZIE'S CAR - DAY/NIGHT

Suzie leans to the side as the bullet hits the windshield of her car.

INTERCUT - JON'S CAR/SUZIE'S CAR

Jon shifts angrily and slams the gas pedal.

Suzie matches him tit for tat.


Or whatever action you've got going on there. If there's going to be a lot of back and forth it's best to use an intercut and save yourself the sluglines. I would recommend starting with the set-up shot on the highway so we see there's a chase. Then move to car # 1 and give us a brief description, then car # 2 brief description, and then the intercut. Each time you change cars, start a new line.

Hope that helps.

[ricetalks]

I believe there is another way to handle this. Especially when the scene is cross-cutting quickly from one car to another.

That is:

EXT. COUNTRY HIGHWAY - DAY

TWO CARS chase each other down the two lane black top.

INTERCUT:

INT. JOHN'S CAR /LAURA'S CAR - DAY

John levels his gun AT--

LAURA'S CAR--

She looks in her rear view mirror. SEES--

JOHN

pulls the trigger.

SMASH!! The bullet punches a hole through the back window and shatters Laura's windshield.

[ALG71]

I would also suggest reading the car chases scenes from several scripts you're familiar with.

Here you can find several websites with movie scripts:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087

There's plenty of movies with car chases and literally hundreds of scripts can be found through those screenplay databases. As far as the exact way to write it, I'm not that good yet to give an example but I think the INTERCUT that ricetalks mentions would work and Kristy's example also.

[bradn]

Hey Everyone,

Many thanks for all the replies, you guys/gals rock!!!!

Yeah I've done some reasearch before hand and the I found the method that ricetalks speaks about. I mean I don't know if it's correct or not, but the scene would be

EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT right? and then the cuts to the cars would be additional scenes within the MAIN scene? if that makes sense at all - it's early for me :)

Hey ALG71, thanks for the thread, I definitely think it's a good idea to read some car chase scripts to get a better feel. Thank you.

Thanks everyone!

Take Care

B