In a spec screenplay, CONTINUOUS is used at the end of a scene heading to indicate that the action moves from one location to another in a single, unbroken shot or moment, with zero passage of time.
Here is exactly when to use it—and when to leave it out:
When to USE CONTINUOUS:
Use it only when a character moves directly from one room/area to another, and the camera follows them to maintain uninterrupted, real-time action.
Example: A character runs away from a threat, bursting through a door from the hallway into an office.
INT. HALLWAY – DAY
John sprints down the corridor, panicked. He throws his weight against the heavy oak door.
INT. OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
John stumbles inside, slamming the door shut behind him.
When NOT to Use CONTINUOUS:
Do not use it for normal chronological progression: If Scene B simply happens right after Scene A, but in a different location or with a natural beat/cut between them, just use the standard time of day (DAY or NIGHT).
Do not use it if time passes: If there is even a five-second jump in time, or a cut away to something else happening simultaneously, it is not continuous.
Do not overuse it: Spec readers find CONTINUOUS-itis distracting. If the real-time flow is already obvious to the reader, standard time-of-day markers are preferred.
The Rule of Thumb: If the camera could theoretically capture the transition between the two scene headings in one continuous, un-cut take, use CONTINUOUS. If there’s an edit or a jump in time, stick to DAY or NIGHT.