How To Write A Screenplay: Interior And Exterior?

In screenplay formatting, scene headings are crucial for identifying the location of a scene that takes place both inside and outside. The indicator in a scene heading is “interior” or “exterior”, which refers to the interior or exterior of the scene. In screenplay format, the abbreviation “INT”. or “EXT”. is used to specify the interior or exterior, followed by the set (e.g., house) and the time of day (day or night).

When writing a scene heading, it is essential to establish whether the scene takes place inside or outside. Interiors are located within a building, structure, or vehicle, while exteriors are outside. A small hyphen separates the location of the scene from when the scene takes place. In screenplay formatting, the scene heading should begin with a SLUG LINE, such as “INT. HOUSE – DAY”. The decision of whether the scene takes place indoors or outdoors should follow the main action of the story.

A scene heading primarily consists of three important pieces of information: interior or exterior, location, and the general time of the day. Complete scene headings should start with the abbreviation “EXT”. or “INT”. It is neither necessary nor acceptable to spell out “EXTERIOR” or “INTERIOR”.

Ken Miyamoto provides guidance on how to write scene headings, emphasizing the importance of using abbreviations and location or setting. By following these guidelines, screenwriters can effectively label scenes that take place both inside and outside.


📹 Interior and Exterior Scene Headings in Screenplays – Formatting

The scene heading of a screenplay will normally have an interior (INT) or exterior (INT) command in the beginning. However …


How do you use interior and exterior in a sentence?

The significance of this analysis lies in the examination of the exteriors and interiors of the aforementioned blocks. While the interior is in a satisfactory condition and accessible, the exterior presents a contrasting scenario, offering easy accessibility as illustrated in the Wikipedia example.

How do you write places in a script?
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How do you write places in a script?

Scene headings are used to introduce new locations in a script, typically in all capital letters. They begin with the location name, followed by a hyphen (-) and the words “day or night”. They also indicate whether the scene takes place in the interior or exterior of the location.

A description is a brief paragraph that introduces the scene’s setting, character appearance, and initial actions. It is usually written in an active voice in the present tense and should be visible to the audience. Extraneous details should be communicated or eliminated. Descriptions begin on the left margin in conventional screenplay format.

What is interior and exterior in film?

“INT” stands for interior scenes, taking place within enclosed spaces, and “EXT” denotes exterior scenes set in the outdoors. These distinctions are crucial in guiding the production team through the intricacies of filmmaking. Mastering these scene headings will enable effective communication of creative vision and contribute to the seamless storytelling process. As you continue your cinematic endeavors, embrace the power of “INT” and “EXT” in your screenplays to guide your storytelling adventures.

How do you write interior exterior in a script?

When writing a scene heading, it’s crucial to determine whether the scene takes place inside or outside. The indicator in a scene heading is abbreviated as EXT. and INT. In this example, the scene takes place inside. If a scene moves from an interior to an exterior location, a new scene heading is needed. If the move is executed in a single shot, both indicator abbreviations can be used in the scene heading.

What is interior and exterior in writing?

The text posits that the construction of an indoor park is a more straightforward endeavor than the creation of a park at night, given the inherent limitations of bathroom and similar spaces.

How to write different rooms in a script?

To separate a specific room or place from the master setting, use a slash or hyphen, but a slash is preferred as it keeps elements grouped. It’s not necessary to repeat the master setting in an uninterrupted sequence. For example, a character from the living room to the bathroom would have a new scene heading with a time of day. This helps distinguish between elements and make it easier to identify them.

When to use int/ext in a screenplay?

The abbreviation INT. or EXT. is used to indicate Interior or Exterior, followed by SET, such as House, and then Time of Day, usually specified with DAY or NIGHT. Nowadays, professional screenwriting programs like Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter are widely used for formatting and writing screenplays. However, it is crucial to understand the proper format for individual scenes. The scene should begin with a SLUG LINE, like INT. HOUSE – DAY, and should be preceded by the SET, such as House, followed by the Time of Day, usually specified with DAY or NIGHT.

Is underwater int or ext?

The primary goal of INT vs EXT is to describe light source, and water refracts light, making it a poser. EXT is more appropriate for exterior shots, like the ocean, as they are exterior shots. Shooting scripts from films set around water, such as The Abyss, can guide you on this. For underwater shots, use EXT. OCEAN/UNDERWATER – DAY or EXT. UNDERWATER. On the surface, use EXT. OCEAN – DAY or EXT. OCEAN SURFACE – DAY. Depending on the situation, DAY may not be necessary as there may not be much light underwater.

How rare is internal dialogue?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

How rare is internal dialogue?

According to psychologist Russell Hurlburt’s research, about 30 to 50 percent of people regularly think to themselves in internal monologues, which are functional and not a sign of mental disorder. To determine if you have inner monologues, try listening to your internal voice or intrusive thoughts during meditation. Mindful practice can provide insights into whether you have and how often you have inner monologues.

For the 50 to 70 percent of people who don’t regularly have inner monologues, many are processing information and preparing for tasks using visual imagery rather than words. They see images, such as a to-do list, rather than thinking about or hearing the words for the items on the list. This explanation is helpful because it helps to perspective take on those who are a bit “quiet” in their inner experience by relating to their use of images or playing back a song in their heads. It’s helpful to think about their inner experience in visual terms, as it’s not a total void or vacuum in there.

What is the interior monologue technique?
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What is the interior monologue technique?

Interior monologue is a narrative technique used in dramatic and nondramatic fiction to depict the thoughts and emotions of the protagonists. These monologues can be loosely related impressions or more structured sequences of thought and emotion. They can take various forms, such as dramatized inner conflicts, self-analysis, imagined dialogue, and rationalization. The term is often used interchangeably with stream of consciousness, but it can also reflect all half thoughts, impressions, and associations that impinge upon the character’s consciousness.

The interior monologue was first used extensively by Édouard Dujardin in Les Lauriers sont coupés and later became a characteristic device in 20th-century psychological novels. It is closely related to soliloquy and dramatic monologue.

Is Inside a car ext or int screenplay?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Is Inside a car ext or int screenplay?

In a screenplay, it is important to distinguish between an interior scene and an exterior scene. Some screenwriters add phrases like “MOVING” to create a busy slug line, but the scene description should convey the character is driving. Other additions include “SAME” or “LATER” to indicate that the scene takes place within the same moment of the previous scene. Using terms like “EARLY MORNING” or “DAWN” should only be used if they are partial to the story, such as in a vampire movie script. However, a simple “DAY” or “NIGHT” is sufficient. The scene description can also be used to convey other information like the time of day.


📹 Basic Elements of a Film Script for BEGINNERS! (How To Format, Read and Write a Screenplay!)

Are you a writer who needs help formatting their script? Maybe you’re an actor, who doesn’t understand what the difference …


How To Write A Screenplay: Interior And Exterior
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Rafaela Priori Gutler

Hi, I’m Rafaela Priori Gutler, a passionate interior designer and DIY enthusiast. I love transforming spaces into beautiful, functional havens through creative decor and practical advice. Whether it’s a small DIY project or a full home makeover, I’m here to share my tips, tricks, and inspiration to help you design the space of your dreams. Let’s make your home as unique as you are!

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  • You have no idea how much I have struggled to learn this. The other articles I have watched had a very bad visuals and sounds but as for you everything is 👌. Thanks girl. Take us through other aspects of script writing . All the best ❤️ may you grow and blessed beyond your expectations. Power Girl. You are changing lives. Majority of us cannot afford to pay school for these lessons but we can afford a few cash to buy data bundles and watch your website. Thanks ❤️🙌🔥

  • I’m a beginner screenwriter and I found this article to be a good starting point . I’d like to see you give examples of how to incorporate dialog in a flashback setting, that is, starting in the present, and then going back in time to give the reader an understanding of what had transpired up to the present time

  • This was really helpful! I’ve been writing script adaptations for a story to post online and I’m very knit picky with myself on formatting. Information and advice on scriptwriting on the Internet is so varied, so this was incredibly helpful! If love to see more scriptwriting advice. How about time moving quickly within a single scene?

  • Get the feeling the Universe (aka The Divine) is directing me towards pulling all this madness out of my head and putting down into scripts/screenplays because I keep stumbling across articles like this one… and I know nothing about this profession. Thank you for this article. Look forward to perusal more from you and learning these things for the first time.

  • Girl! You don’t understand how helpful this has been. I am trying to apply to a writing camp with a production company’s and they asked that we create a short script. There is no one out there with a article or script example with layout explanation for tv shows/animated series. Can’t wait to learn more from you!! ❤️

  • Thank you makyla,, I’ve been an actor for 17 years in the East Coast,, and some of the stuff that you talked about in this article I didn’t even know that’s crazy,, I also would like to get into writing and I have idea for screenplay except I’m not sure how to write it because I never wrote a screenplay before,, so you’re awesome thank you I will continue to watch your articles and get some more stuff I guess and I will talk to my acting coach and share this with her as well

  • Hello! I love your screenwriting article; it has helped me understand and learn so much! I want to become a screenwriter one day but don’t want to go to college since it’s really expensive for my situation. I also have a question; I really want to go to the industry to not become an actor but a PA and wonder if you know any tips into finding one. I see your recent article that you are taking a break from acting, which I totally understand and glad you’re prioritizing your happiness and mental health first:)) You are an inspiration!

  • I love your energy and your articles! I am 15 and I am kinda new to the acting world (I used to do a lot of theatre at like 11-12 years old) but it’s something I think I really want to get back into. I want to figure out where to get classes, how to get auditions (especially for shows that already exist that id love to become a character on) and also tips for all the basic things that an actor really needs like headshots, how to fill out a resume when you have zero experience like I never really filmed my roles from when I used to do theatre so I have nothing to put on a reel and Im in an online school so I can’t really be in plays or anything right now. Help!! <3

  • Nice article I have a question though Doesn’t O.C (off-camera) have a kind of ordering tune?? Like it says the director and cameramen what to do and how to do it…. So we’d better not use it very much; right? Because when we say off camera the director and cameraman should decide where the camera should shoot(because it’s diffinitely not gonna shoot the person who is speaking) And lastly I’d like to ask you to make a article about drama writing ( and other genres of course ) Thank you 😊

  • Thank you for the information. I have a good/unique idea for a movie I think would be well received and leaves many possibilities for sequels if I can get it off the ground. I need to write a script that would be seriously looked at after submitting it to the Screenwriters Guild. Thanks again and I wish you continued success.

  • Thanks for the intro Makayla! It was educational and entertaining. It kept my short attention span focused besides the two or three times i looked over to watch planet of the apes 😅. My question is how long should each page be corresponding to the the time frame to the movie? For an example should one scene be no more than five pages, then the five pages is no more than 20 minutes? Like if I was doing a 2 hour movie should it be 200 pages. Sorry that was a lot 😅 hope you can help….further.

  • LOVVEEE THIS VID, I’m assigned to be the script writer for our project and this vid helped me ALOT, a question that I always wonder though especially when I see some movie actors/actresses have their scripts, Does the scripts include the other actors line and dialogues mix with their own or just the said actor’s line and dialogue (idk if that makes any sense, I’m sorryyy)

  • I really love your content and appreciate your article making for all of the beginner actors. What we want next is a article on different types of scripts definitely. Thanks for your valuable time ❣️ you give for making such informative articles for all of us. A big thanks to you again and hope to meet on your next article maybe where you gonna uploading the wanted content😊.

  • I’m working on a script for a movie that i plan to shoot in Mar-Apr 2023. You’ve been so helpful and i truly appreciate you. So tell me if it’s dialogue of scene 1 is there a need to write Scene 1: INT. MUPES’S ROM – DAY? Or i just start from INT? And moving to scene 2 dialogue? I hope you get what i’m trying to ask

  • I have just started learning scriptwriting. I have a main idea of a TV show, but most everything I have found on how to format and write a script refers to Movies; any help with how the format is different that a movie script would be helpful. The Idea is for a comedy in the style of The Office or Superstore if that helps direct the style I am looking for.

  • Hi, I happened to stubble across your blog doing some research. My Dad’s a film script writer, and we had a discussion a few weeks ago. So I noticed that in movies, they would say the title of the movie. Written into the script so someone will actually say the name or phrase of the title of the movie. I’ll call those Easter eggs. I’m not sure when this was implemented maybe from the author in novels. My dad worked for MGM studios in the 70s. So his style of writing is old school, I would say. I wanna hear your thoughts. Is this something that is commonplace? For example, if we’re perusal Lord of the Rings, someone will actually say “Return of the King.” What would would a writer call this if so?

  • Before I start a new path, I have to get my feet wet first, I insert my toe to test the temp. The temp is perfect! Your article is absolutely brilliant! But, to get what each term is, I have to watch your article at least 30 or 40 time. You are so entertaining that I lose concentration about what the topic you are talking about is. Is script writing for me? That is what I am looking at, and you have helped me think about it using the best teaching methods I’ve seen. So thank you!😇

  • With Drama – say you ave an character who is italian. I guess write it as .. (in Italian) so the line is wrttten in English but would be spoken in Ittalian by the actor. BUT the reason it is written in English so the script reader can understand the content and cotext of the line of dialogue when assesing the script .. Does that make sense?

  • I really don’t have the patience for writing a script, but I can sit for ages writing a story as if you’re perusal it on TV. I think it’s all the rules that make me feel somewhat restricted. I can see my stories play out fine in my mind, but I still get that frustrating feeling when I attempt to put them into a script format. It’s annoying me.

  • I will have my first ever audition this Friday. It’s not a big production movie but still excited for it. The director asked me to prepare lines for a certain character from a certain scene. The character only has 3 lines on that scene. Do I memorize these lines or should I add to them? I didn’t quite understand what the director meant by “prepare lines”. Someone please help!!

  • Omg I’m soo excited. I’ve been on writing teams before but we had a scripter typing it out! I also went to school for performance and regularly read scripts but overlooked everything but direct dialogue til now. You’re so enthusiastic and have great presence! Love it. Thank you for your effort, & support.

  • I am in the process of writing the outlines for two original screenplays – one a full length feature and the other, six short films to be shown one after the other to make a feature length movie. This is the first article I watched of yours and I will be perusal the others you have posted. I have both screenplays written in my head and now it is time to put them on paper. Needless to say, I have a lot to learn about formatting. Thank you for this very informative article!

  • Ok I am trying to learn how to write and animate and edit to make a fan made thing also own ideas but I really want to do this and I am on a timer to complete it I have no idea what I am doing thanks for the help but I am still dying this gives respect to all writer animators and editors because it is hard

  • I think you are at the top of your game, the best examiner of scripting I’ve seen yet. Always instructive, never boring.. Your presentation skills and expertise are amazing. I learned to much from you, but I just watched the AI article and agree with almost all. I use Chat GPT to kickstart my scenes and I consider CGPT to be a collaborator and a tool to bounce ideas off of. You may be right that AI has the ‘potential’ to contribute to a story, but knowing how people talk is more of a human thing. Anyway, I am a fan at work on my first ‘real’ teleplay. So, thank you, thank you (insert another thank you) for your wonderful articles. All screenwriters should follow you!

  • Here’s my script: Sure, here is how Disney might rewrite this draft as a script for an episode of Mickey Mouse Funhouse: * * * *Scene:* Mickey Mouse Funhouse *Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto are playing in the Funhouse. They are laughing and having a good time.* *Toodles:* (enters) Hey, everybody! *Mickey:* Hi, Toodles! What’s up? *Toodles:* I’m here to take you back to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. *Mickey:* What? But we don’t want to go back! *Toodles:* Too bad. I’m taking you whether you like it or not. *Mickey and his friends are scared. They don’t know what to do.* *Toodles:* (waves his magic wand) Alakazam! *Mickey and his friends are transported back to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.* *Mickey:* (looks around) We’re back! *Minnie:* But how did Toodles do that? *Donald:* I don’t know, but I don’t like it. *Daisy:* Me neither. *Pluto:* Woof! *Toodles:* (laughs maniacally) I’m glad you’re not happy. I’m going to make you stay here forever! *Mickey and his friends are trapped in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. They are sad and scared.* *The audience watches in shock. They can’t believe that Toodles has defeated Mickey and his friends.* *Suddenly, something strange happens. The audience starts to agree with Toodles. They start to see that Mickey and his friends were getting too old for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. They were starting to bore the audience.* *In the end, the audience cheers as Toodles locks Mickey and his friends inside the Clubhouse. They know that this is the best thing for the show.

  • FADE IN: ON A RINGING TELEPHONE A hand reaches for it, bringing the receiver up to the face of ANITA SINGH, a young girl, no more than sixteen. A friendly face with innocent eyes. ANITA Hello. MAN’S VOICE (from phone) Hello. Silence. ANITA Yes. MAN Who is this? ANITA Who are you trying to reach? MAN What number is this? ANITA What number are you trying to reach? MAN I don’t know. ANITA I think you have the wrong number. MAN Do I? ANITA It happens. Take it easy. CLICK! She hangs up the phone. The CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal Anita in a living room, alone. She moves from the living room to the kitchen. It’s a nice house. Affluent. The phone RINGS again. INT. KITCHEN Anita grabs the portable. ANITA Hello.

  • Thank you for this…. Quick question: my 11 year old daughter has been into acting for a couple years, she’s been doing acting classes, holiday programs, school productions, etc. She has just recently expressed an interest in getting an agent. I want to support her in her interests, but don’t have the slightest idea where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

  • Wht a ccccaptivating one. This is beautiful, Makayla. Great job!!!! Never been this glued to articles this long. Yours was different. I look forward to treading the scriptwriting path. You made it easy and interesting. Much love 💕💕💕💕 I almost forgot to drop a comment on how lovely your voice is. Makayla is uch a beauty!!❤❤ Go gurlll

  • im actually makin a short movie with my class for graduation, im usually, never used a script before at making a short movie, becuz i can just say what this character have to say, or what kind of movie i want to make, and all of my friend got the idea of what i want to make. But now, oh boyy… this is gonna be my biggest project i’ve ever make. And, this article help me, thanks :))) Ohh, anyway, sorry for my bad english XDD

  • You resonate better. I like your presentations.. I’m doing Drama.. I got two in a mentor program with Sundance. I won’t know anything till the end of August If I’m even considered. I paid the $40 bucks a piece and had them submitted to Greenlight Coverage. They both did pretty good. I have four projects all together. ( Working my fifth). Later.

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