Tip for /TAGS in the Scene Heading

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PeteNZ

Tip for /TAGS in the Scene Heading

Postby PeteNZ » Nov 11, 2013 2:27 pm

INT. /CHR/CHASE/ WILD CAR CHASE

I have 500 pages of notes, scenes and ideas. It can be daunting to sort them, despite using 5 Outline Headings as well.

But I discovered that / (Forward Slash) at the start of a scene will bring it right to the top of the Scenes (Sort By Location). Then with a couple of abbreviations I can create a compact string to sort scenes in addition to the scene description.

Example 1:
INT. /CHR/CHASE/ BANK CAR CHASE
INT. /CHR/CHASE/ HITCHHIKER CAR CHASE
INT. /CHR/CHASE/ WILD CAR CHASE

CHR = Character's name.
CHASE = Category of activity.

Example 2:
EXT. /BOB/CONV/FUT/ PARK - AFTERNOON
EXT. /BOB/CONV/FUT/ ROBERT'S CAR ON MOTORWAY
EXT. /BOB/CONV/PAST/ ROBERT "I WAS RIDICULED"
EXT. /BOB/CONV/PAST/ ROBERT "NONE OF MY DREAMS CAME TRUE"

BOB = Robert
CONV = Various conversation scenes
FUT = Discussing plans for the future
PAST = Discussing past failures

Note that spaces sort first, then number, then text.

INT. / 1
INT. / A
INT. /1
INT. /A

These TAGS might not be neccesary for everybody, but with 300 scene headings/ideas, it is very handy to sort by a character or activity.

Note: Once you have order in your script you can delete the /TAGS in bulk with Find/Replace.

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