format How do I format a phone conversation?

[insert_cliche_here]

Hi all, I have (yet another) question about script writing. Here's what I have: a character, having a phone conversation. Now, how do I format it?

Like this

JANE
I love World of Warcraft!
(a beat)
Really? I cannot beat that boss!

OR

JANE
I love World of Warcraft!

A beat.

JANE
Really? I cannot beat that boss!


What if I want to have the shot on Jane during Bob's response?

JANE
I love World of Warcraft!

BOB
Me too! I just owned Master Snickerdoodle!

JANE
Really? I cannot beat that boss!


How do I indicate that he's not actually in the room? Is it off screen?

Also, if I have some conversations that go back and forth showing both characters talking and others that only show one character, is that ok? (I hope that makes sense)

Thanks

 

[Instag8r]

Back and forth showing both characters would be something like this:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. LIVINGROOM - DAY

Jane sits in her living room playing WOW on her bigscreen. She has the phone to her ear.


JANE
I love World of Warcraft!

INTERCUT:

INT. OFFICE

Bob is playing WOW on his work computer while nervously keeping an eye out for his office manager while he talks to Jane on the telephone.


BOB
Me too! I just owned Master Snickerdoodle!

JANE
Really? I cannot beat that boss!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to show only one character and hear the other on the phone just indicate it as a Voice Over (V.O.).

 

[insert_cliche_here]

Cool beans. Thanks

 

[barnaclelapse]

Amazingly that was one of the most difficult things I had to remember when writing my first screenplay. I'm still not sure I got the damn thing right, and I'm not at all sure why it was such a pain in the ass in the first place. I felt like an idiot.

 

[IndieBudget]

Im working on a short film right now. I wrote the script, Im directing & shooting the short so I have taken some shortcuts... I see that using the correct form will greatly aid the talent, especially if they know what a proper script is.

 

[VPTurner]

Im working on a short film right now. I wrote the script, Im directing & shooting the short so I have taken some shortcuts... I see that using the correct form will greatly aid the talent, especially if they know what a proper script is.

Stay tuned, Eugene. I'm taking yours as a rewriting exercise and tackling it this weekend.

 

[Ccolebrook]

I usually do it as follows.

INT. SOMEWHERE - DAY
Josh answers the phone.

JOSH
Wuddup

TRESSA (V.O.)
Hey homeslice, lemme borrow your legos please.


I doubt a reader would be confused as to what's going on. If for instance someone talking on the phone also does voice over narration I would do the following to make sure there is no confusion.

TRESSA (V.O.)
(phone)
Lemme borrow dem leggooooos

Not that I'm a produced writer or anything, but I'm under the impression that as long as the interaction is clearly laid out, the format isn't that much of an issue.

 

[insert_cliche_here]

cool beans, thanks for answering my question

 

[Kebab]

I use V.O.