How do I install the Scene Headings skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add bybren-llc/scene-headings-2 in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Scene Headings safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Scene Headings?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Scene Headings free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Scene Headings?

bybren-llc (@bybren-llc) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Scene Headings by bybren-llc — Agent Skill

Name: Scene Headings
Author: bybren-llc

Scene Headings

This skill provides Fountain scene heading formatting rules and conventions. Covers INT/EXT prefixes, location naming, time of day indicators, continuous scenes, and establishing shots. Use when: creating new scenes, formatting scene headings, managing location consistency, or organizing scene structure in Fountain format.

bybren-llc Updated Sep 21, 2026

File contents

Scene Headings Skill

Invocation Triggers

Apply this skill when:

Creating new scenes
Formatting scene headings
Managing location consistency
Organizing scene structure

Scene Heading Format

Standard Structure

[INT/EXT]. [LOCATION] - [TIME OF DAY]

Interior/Exterior Prefixes

Prefix	Meaning	Usage
`INT.`	Interior	Indoor scenes
`EXT.`	Exterior	Outdoor scenes
`INT./EXT.`	Both	Moving between (car scenes)
`INT/EXT`	Both	Alternate format
`I/E`	Both	Abbreviated format
`EST.`	Establishing	Establishing shots

Time of Day Options

Time	Usage
`DAY`	Standard daylight
`NIGHT`	Standard nighttime
`MORNING`	Early day, specific
`AFTERNOON`	Mid-day, specific
`EVENING`	Late day before dark
`DAWN`	Sunrise
`DUSK`	Sunset
`CONTINUOUS`	No time break from previous
`LATER`	Same location, time passed
`MOMENTS LATER`	Brief time passage
`SAME`	Same time as previous scene

Examples

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHT

INT./EXT. CAR (MOVING) - CONTINUOUS

INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - MORNING

EXT. CITY STREET - LATER

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME

Location Best Practices

Naming Conventions

Use consistent names throughout script
Be specific: "JOHN'S APARTMENT" not just "APARTMENT"
Include relevant modifiers in parentheses

Location Modifiers

INT. CAR (MOVING) - DAY
INT. CAR (PARKED) - NIGHT
INT. WAREHOUSE (ABANDONED) - DAY
EXT. HOUSE (ESTABLISHING) - DAY
INT. PLANE (IN FLIGHT) - NIGHT

Sub-locations

INT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
INT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - NIGHT
INT. HOSPITAL - SARAH'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Special Scene Headings

Flashbacks/Flash-forwards

INT. CHILDHOOD HOME - DAY (FLASHBACK)

INT. CHILDHOOD HOME - DAY (1985)

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY (TWENTY YEARS EARLIER)

INT. OFFICE - DAY (FLASH-FORWARD)

Dream/Fantasy Sequences

INT. SURREAL LANDSCAPE - NIGHT (DREAM)

INT. PALACE - DAY (FANTASY)

INT. SARAH'S MIND - TIMELESS

Forcing Non-Standard Headings

Use . prefix to force any line as scene heading:

.MONTAGE - SARAH'S TRAINING

.FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

.SERIES OF SHOTS

.INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATION

Scene Numbers

Format

INT. HOUSE - DAY #1#
INT. HOUSE - NIGHT #2#
INT. GARDEN - DAY #2A#

Usage Guidelines

Spec scripts: Do NOT include scene numbers
Shooting scripts: Include scene numbers
Numbers appear at both margins in output
Use letters for inserted scenes (#2A#, #2B#)

Common Patterns

Continuous Action

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Sarah runs down the corridor.

INT. STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS

She bursts through the door, taking stairs two at a time.

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

Sarah emerges into bright sunlight.

Intercut Scenes

INT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sarah paces, phone to ear.

INT. JOHN'S OFFICE - SAME

John sits at his desk, phone in hand.

INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATION

SARAH
We need to talk.

JOHN
I'm listening.

Montage

.MONTAGE - SARAH'S INVESTIGATION

INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Sarah pores over old newspapers.

EXT. COURTHOUSE - DAY
Sarah photographs documents.

INT. BAR - NIGHT
Sarah interviews an old man.

.END MONTAGE

Validation Checklist

Prefix is INT., EXT., or valid variant
Location is specific and consistent
Time of day is included
Special scenes are properly forced with .
Scene numbers only on shooting scripts

---name: scene-headings-2description: This skill provides Fountain scene heading formatting rules and conventions. Covers INT/EXT prefixes, location naming, time of day indicators, continuous scenes, and establishing shots. Use when: creating new scenes, formatting scene headings, managing location consistency, or organizing scene structure in Fountain format.---# Scene Headings Skill## Invocation TriggersApply this skill when:- Creating new scenes- Formatting scene headings- Managing location consistency- Organizing scene structure## Scene Heading Format### Standard Structure```[INT/EXT]. [LOCATION] - [TIME OF DAY]```### Interior/Exterior Prefixes| Prefix | Meaning | Usage ||--------|---------|-------|| `INT.` | Interior | Indoor scenes || `EXT.` | Exterior | Outdoor scenes || `INT./EXT.` | Both | Moving between (car scenes) || `INT/EXT` | Both | Alternate format || `I/E` | Both | Abbreviated format || `EST.` | Establishing | Establishing shots |### Time of Day Options| Time | Usage ||------|-------|| `DAY` | Standard daylight || `NIGHT` | Standard nighttime || `MORNING` | Early day, specific || `AFTERNOON` | Mid-day, specific || `EVENING` | Late day before dark || `DAWN` | Sunrise || `DUSK` | Sunset || `CONTINUOUS` | No time break from previous || `LATER` | Same location, time passed || `MOMENTS LATER` | Brief time passage || `SAME` | Same time as previous scene |### Examples```fountainINT. COFFEE SHOP - DAYEXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHTINT./EXT. CAR (MOVING) - CONTINUOUSINT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - MORNINGEXT. CITY STREET - LATERINT. HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME```## Location Best Practices### Naming Conventions- Use consistent names throughout script- Be specific: "JOHN'S APARTMENT" not just "APARTMENT"- Include relevant modifiers in parentheses### Location Modifiers```fountainINT. CAR (MOVING) - DAYINT. CAR (PARKED) - NIGHTINT. WAREHOUSE (ABANDONED) - DAYEXT. HOUSE (ESTABLISHING) - DAYINT. PLANE (IN FLIGHT) - NIGHT```### Sub-locations```fountainINT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAYINT. JOHN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - CONTINUOUSINT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - NIGHTINT. HOSPITAL - SARAH'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS```## Special Scene Headings### Flashbacks/Flash-forwards```fountainINT. CHILDHOOD HOME - DAY (FLASHBACK)INT. CHILDHOOD HOME - DAY (1985)EXT. CITY STREET - DAY (TWENTY YEARS EARLIER)INT. OFFICE - DAY (FLASH-FORWARD)```### Dream/Fantasy Sequences```fountainINT. SURREAL LANDSCAPE - NIGHT (DREAM)INT. PALACE - DAY (FANTASY)INT. SARAH'S MIND - TIMELESS```### Forcing Non-Standard HeadingsUse `.` prefix to force any line as scene heading:```fountain.MONTAGE - SARAH'S TRAINING.FLASHBACK SEQUENCE.SERIES OF SHOTS.INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATION```## Scene Numbers### Format```fountainINT. HOUSE - DAY #1#INT. HOUSE - NIGHT #2#INT. GARDEN - DAY #2A#```### Usage Guidelines- **Spec scripts**: Do NOT include scene numbers- **Shooting scripts**: Include scene numbers- Numbers appear at both margins in output- Use letters for inserted scenes (#2A#, #2B#)## Common Patterns### Continuous Action```fountainINT. HALLWAY - DAYSarah runs down the corridor.INT. STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUSShe bursts through the door, taking stairs two at a time.EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUSSarah emerges into bright sunlight.```### Intercut Scenes```fountainINT. SARAH'S APARTMENT - NIGHTSarah paces, phone to ear.INT. JOHN'S OFFICE - SAMEJohn sits at his desk, phone in hand.INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATIONSARAHWe need to talk.JOHNI'm listening.```### Montage```fountain.MONTAGE - SARAH'S INVESTIGATIONINT. LIBRARY - DAYSarah pores over old newspapers.EXT. COURTHOUSE - DAYSarah photographs documents.INT. BAR - NIGHTSarah interviews an old man..END MONTAGE```## Validation Checklist- [ ] Prefix is INT., EXT., or valid variant- [ ] Location is specific and consistent- [ ] Time of day is included- [ ] Special scenes are properly forced with .- [ ] Scene numbers only on shooting scripts

Frequently asked questions