Screenwriting 101

The Basics of Screenwriting for the Beginning Writer.

I am working through my second year at The Los Angeles Film School. So, I thought I would start a new series for novice screenwriters and go over some basic writing skills and things to think about while you're working on your feature or TV pilot episode.

First let's talk about the words and jargon you’ll need to know when you’re writing a script, or even just reading one.

Being a screenwriter means that you get to learn new things all the time. In fact, the best writers have a curious and learning mindset. You’ll need to know what a slug line is, what the action line is and what goes into it.

The Slug Line

What is a slug line?

The slug line is where you put the “Where and When” So this is from my script for Nancy Killdare: the Russian Hustle (working title). The slug line is stating that this is outside (EXT) on a Rooftop, during the day.

This is all very important information. Here is another example of a slug line.