How to Write a Montage in a Script

The use of a montage in film to advance the timing while providing visual reference of characters. Or moments taking place either in a single location. Or across various locations is a common theme in filmmaking. Aspiring filmmakers as well as those who have hard roots in the industry know. That writing a montage is one of the most essential elements of production. That virtually all filmmakers approach at some time in their career. But do you know how to write a montage in a script?

While there is no set method of writing a montage in a script, as the elements and formats differ. There are some industry-standard options that provide guidance on what should and should not be included in the montage draft.

Ideally, the montage is to be written with a focus on the production requirements. But how?

Determine How Many Locations Your Montage will Have

The first step to learning how to write a montage in a script is to determine how many locations your montage will have. Montages generally either take the format of a single location montage, or a multiple location montage.

The most common type of montage, which is also the most straightforward to write into your script, is a single location montage.

Slugs

Writing a single location montage into your script is a matter of simply using the slug MONTAGE at the start of the montage. And then including written action lines that make up the various montage visuals taking place in the location.

Most importantly, you want to make sure that you provide enough detail for your reader. To know exactly what’s happening with each action of your montage. State the location, the actions, and the characters involved.

At the end of your montage, you will simply provide the slug END MONTAGE. To dictate the final elements and move onto the next scene heading with ease.

Writing a Multiple Location Montage

Learning how to write a montage in a script when there will be multiple locations involved is a little bit more complex than a single location montage.

But some of the features included are the same. The same importance in making sure that the reader understands what you’re trying to say and what is taking place remains.

You’ll have to make sure that your multiple location montage is written in your script in such a way that the reader can also consider production as they are breaking down the way the montage is to play out.

New Scenes

In this case, ideally each new location in your montage is represented by a new scene. Each scene of course will then require planning and details regarding characters, props, and other decisions.

Details about each scene location in a montage will be important to ensure your montage is portrayed correctly.

With a multiple location montage, you’ll again delineate the montage by introducing the slug MONTAGE. You’ll then include details about the current scene and the actions playing out for that particular location of the montage.

Each new location will be delineated by a scene, in which the new actions of that location play out. When all scenes, and locations, have been written in with scene headings for each new location in the montage, you’ll delineate the end of the montage with the slug END MONTAGE.

Details

This method of declaring the montage for multiple locations is easy to read and equally easy for the production team to understand what their role is in ensuring the montage comes together successfully. 

Again, although there are no set standards on how to write a montage in a script, these examples provide a useful means of establishing the montage, introducing multiple locations, and providing the details.

Details required both for the reader of the script and the production crew involved so that the montage can be produced without flaw.