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Scene heading: INT/EXT + location + time
Last updated May 29, 2026 · 5 min read
The scene heading at the start of every scene is the most important formatting element — it tells the reader where, when, and indoors / outdoors.
Scene Heading's 4 parts
| Part | Example |
|---|---|
| Scene number | Scene 1 |
| INT / EXT | INT |
| Location | LIGHTHOUSE COTTAGE (any of your Locations list) |
| Time | NIGHT |
Combined examples:
TW:
場 1 / 內景 / 燈塔守護人小屋 / 夜
Hollywood:
INT. LIGHTHOUSE COTTAGE - NIGHT
See: Format switching
INT vs EXT
| Scene | Use |
|---|---|
| Inside a room, car, indoor anywhere | INT. |
| Street, beach, woods, outdoors | EXT. |
| Indoor with significant outdoor view (e.g. shooting through a doorway) | INT./EXT. combined |
Important: INT/EXT isn't just metadata — it affects production prep. INT needs a built set or room; EXT needs location scouting. Be accurate.
Time options
Slima's time chip cycles through four presets:
- DAY: daytime, natural light
- NIGHT: nighttime
- DAWN: just after sunrise
- DUSK: just after sunset
Two more values can appear on a scene heading as annotations (they aren't part of the chip cycle):
- CONTINUOUS: continues directly from the previous scene (no time jump)
- LATER: same day, later
How to create / change a Scene Heading
In Write view
A scene heading is part of the scene itself, not a separate element you type into the script body. To start a new scene, do any of:
- Press Enter on a transition element that already has text
- Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N
- Right-click a scene and choose Insert New Scene
To edit an existing scene heading's INT/EXT, location, or time, use the Scene Detail Panel below.
From Scene Detail Panel
Scene Detail Panel has:
- INT / EXT toggle chip
- Location dropdown (linked to Locations)
- Time chip
Both surfaces are linked — editing the detail panel updates the Write view's scene heading and vice versa.
Linking to Locations list
If the Scene Heading's location matches an entry in Locations list, the scene auto-links to that location. The Locations list shows "which scenes use this location" (Link scenes to locations).