Establishing
When you just want to show a quick EXT. (exterior) shot of a building, before setting up the INT. (interior) shot, is it okay to use a scene heading without any scene description below?
Yes! But — you need to add ESTABLISHING after your scene heading. For example:
EXT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT (ESTABLISHING) INT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT The Joker adjusts his tie as he stalks toward Harley Quinn.
OR
EXT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING INT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT The Joker adjusts his tie as he stalks toward Harley Quinn.
Honestly though, you’re better off giving a little flavor to the scene with an action line, especially the first time we see the location.
If you use this method, then DO NOT put ESTABLISHING after the scene heading. For example:
EXT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT A leering, domed, metal fortress glows ominously in a moonlit swamp. INT. HALL OF DOOM - NIGHT The Joker adjusts his tie as he stalks toward Harley Quinn.
Any other kinds of scene headings leave you with a sense of doom?
