How to write a phone conversation.

[IhateMyjob]

Hey guys, I'm trying to write a phone conversation where the video will be going back and forth based on who is talking. Since this script is for me and my "crew" and it won't be seen by anyone, for now I'm just writing it like a normal dialog sequence, and I'll just know when we get to production... But what is the "official" way to do this type of scene??

Thanks,
Marshall

 

[rayw]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12721428/Professional-Screenplay-Formatting-Guide
Goto "Dialog", "Telephone Conversations"

 

[mus]

Exactly the same as if they were in the same room as each other, unless there are specific moments/lines where you should hear but not see a character, then specify that.

Example:

Bob: (Angle on Larry) "So, Larry, do you want to hang out?"

Larry: "I would, Bob, (Angle on Bob) but you're a nudist."

Bob: "Oh yeah... You don't like hanging with naked dudes in public, do you?"

Larry: "No, Bob, because then people get the wrong impression of me"


It doesn't need to say "angle on" but it does need to specify which character will be viewed at that moment (This is for the editor's sake.)

 

[geckopelli]

Exactly the same as if they were in the same room as each other, unless there are specific moments/lines where you should hear but not see a character, then specify that.

Example:

Bob: (Angle on Larry) "So, Larry, do you want to hang out?"

Larry: "I would, Bob, (Angle on Bob) but you're a nudist."

Bob: "Oh yeah... You don't like hanging with naked dudes in public, do you?"

Larry: "No, Bob, because then people get the wrong impression of me"


It doesn't need to say "angle on" but it does need to specify which character will be viewed at that moment (This is for the editor's sake.)

This is correct in a shooting script, but not in a spec script.

In spec script,

INT. HOUSE

Jack picks up the phone,
Jack
Hello?

iNT. OFFICE

Sally on the Phone.

Sally
Hello?

INTERCUT AS NEEDED

Jack
Blah

Sally
Blah
END INTERCUT

or, if space is a premium:

INTERCUT


INT. HOUSE/INT. OFFICE

Jack at Home Sally at the Office.

Jack
Blah

Sally
Blah

END INTERCUT

or just cut to the next scene.

 

[IhateMyjob]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12721428/Professional-Screenplay-Formatting-Guide
Goto "Dialog", "Telephone Conversations"

Defiantly bookmarking that.