How to Use Scene Headings in Celtx

Scene headings mark the beginning of a new time or place in a script.

Scene headings indicate a change in time or location in screenplays, stageplays, audio-visual scripts and audio plays. There are very precise formatting requirements for these headings, which vary according to the type of script. Screenplays and audio-visual, or A/V scripts, require them to be left-aligned and in all caps. Stageplays and audio plays center and underline them. Celtx helps free the scriptwriter to concentrate on the story by doing this formatting for him.

Instructions

Screenplay

1. Launch Celtx and choose "Film" from the project templates. A new film project will open with a blue shaded scene header at the top of the page.

2. Type "INT." to describe an interior location or "EXT." to describe an exterior one. There is no need to use your caps lock---the scene header automatically formats your text.

3. Write a brief description of the location. For example, "LIVING ROOM" or "UNIVERSITY." If you have scenes that occur at various places within a main location, you may add a dash followed by a sub-location, such as "UNIVERSITY - BIOLOGY CLASSROOM."

4. Add a dash followed by the time of day. Screenwriters primarily use "DAY" and "NIGHT," but occasionally you may write a more specific time, such as "SUNSET," if it is essential to the scene.

5. Press "Enter" on the keyboard to exit the scene header and enter the Action format.

6. Press "Enter" once on a blank line or twice on a line of text while in the Action format to create a new scene header, or select "Scene Header" from the Script Element drop-down menu on the toolbar.

A/V Script

1. Launch Celtx and choose "Audio-Visual" from the project templates. A new A/V project will open with a blue shaded scene header at the top of the page.

2. Enter the scene information just as you would for a screenplay.

3. Press "Enter" on the keyboard to exit the scene header and enter the Shot format.

4. Select "Scene Header" from the Script Element drop-down menu to create a new scene heading, or press the "Tab" key on the keyboard to cycle through the formats.

Stageplay

1. Launch Celtx and choose "Theatre" from the project templates. A new stageplay will open with the first scene indicated at the top of the page.

2. Complete scene one, then choose "Scene Heading" from the Script Element drop-down menu on the toolbar to begin scene two. Your cursor will jump to approximately the middle of the page.

3. Type "Scene 2." Celtx will automatically underline it for you.

Audio Play

1. Launch Celtx and choose "Audio Play" from the project templates. A new audio play will open with "Scene: 1" at the top of the page.

2. Complete scene one, then choose "Scene Heading" from the Script Element drop-down menu or press the "Tab" key on the keyboard to cycle through the formats. Your cursor will jump to approximately the middle of the page.

3. Type "Scene: 2." Celtx will automatically underline it for you.

References

• Celtx Wiki: Writing Your Script

Resources

• Story Sense: Scene Headings