I am new here, so if I am in the wrong forum, someone please tell me... Anyway, my question: my screenplay takes place almost exclusive inside a space station. Characters often move in and out of compartments via hallways/passageways, but they are always inside the station. So, if my location (my scene heading) is "Int. Tavern" and the character goes out into the hall, does my location change to "Ext. Tavern" (with the understanding that my character is in the hallway); or does it change to "Int. Hallway outside Tavern" or something similar to that?
If you are writing a script, then it works. As for a story, stage direction of any sort kinda detracts from the action of the story in question. Good luck and hope you maintain a stable orbit.
Personally I'd write INT for inside the craft if it's like the ISS, and EXT for any space walks or any establishing shots/sequences that see it in space.
This reminds me of Star Trek DS9, where they had Quark's bar, where, they probably had an entrance to that bar to stage anyone from getting denied access to this bar. In which case, IDK, maybe have a location called 'Promenade' and then write INT Promenade Night and write that inside the promenade or outside in the promenade or outside the bar... - but still keep INT for this location ? Is probably what I would do.
If I were you, I'd look up some Babylon 5 or Deep Space 9 (or newer) screenplays to see how they did it. My untrained intuition is that you would give direction relative to the scene. So, if the scene is all on the bridge, and a character leaves, they would be leaving the bridge (to wherever). If the scene moves with a character, and they exit the bridge, then they would actually be entering the turbolift or hallway or airlock or whatever.
No, if it is INT. then it is INT. so you would use INT. all the time if it is exclusive to inside the space station. Those directions are for people on the camera crew to know what they need. All you have to say is INT. Hallway Then in action description explain where in the hallway or which hallway. ex. Joe stands outside the tavern door then a BALL OF FIRE wheels around the corner. Which hallway could be part of the slugline. example INT. Upstairs Hallway
That's really interesting. I had to look. Shows what I know about this stuff. You really can't take anything you don't know for granted. http://www.st-minutiae.com/resources/scripts/411.txt
Must get copy of Cole and Haag's "The Complete Guide To Standard Script Formats" if writing a screenplay.
