Writing A Phone Conversation in a screenplay
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How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

Just knowing about using various screenwriting software tools for writing typical scenes is not enough. When you wish to compete with other Indie filmmakers or submit your scripts to screenwriting contests, you have to know perfectly well how to write particular scenes. And phone conversations are now almost in every screenplay. 

A Phone conversation is are written in a typical way in scripts. However, it depends on what type of conversation you are writing. There is a format for every type. 

So without further ado, let’s get started.

  1. One Sided Conversation
  2. Two Sided Conversation with V.O.
  3. Intercut in a Two Sided Conversation
  4. Split Screen in a Two Sided Conversation

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1. One Sided Conversation

When you can see and hear only one person on the phone. That is the camera is on only one person.  It is used for short phone conversations. 

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

The description “Picks up a tray with her left hand and keeps it beside a fluffy dough” is added to show some continuity on screen. Otherwise there would be a pause when the other person was talking.

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2. Two Sided Conversation with V.O.

When you can see and hear one person on the phone, along with the dialog from another who is off screen. The other person talking is depicted by V.O. (Voice Over)

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

Sometimes O.S.(Off Screen) or O.C.(Off Camera) is also written in scripts. But it’s nowadays V.O. is preferred.

Note: I haven’t written “Picks up a tray with her left hand and keeps it beside a fluffy dough” because I introduced a V.O. It’s perfectly fine if you write it though.

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3. Intercut in a Two Sided Conversation

If you want to show the other person’s face or surroundings (if not his face), you can use INTERCUT. Watch this wonderful, tense phone call scene below form The Departed. You’ll know what I’m saying.

Now there are two ways to write this. 

The first is to write INTERCUT – PHONE CONVERSATION. 

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

The second is to combine headings and put a slash (/) in between them.

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

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4. Split Screen in a Two Sided Conversation

We don’t see this very often now. Still, it is sometimes used by writers. There are again two ways here:

First way is to write SPLIT SCREEN in the scene heading.

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

Second way to write it SPLIT SCREEN in the scene description. 

How to Write a Phone Conversation in a Screenplay

Conclusion:

Each good scriptwriter has his or her style of writing. Developing one’s own style is the easiest way to write more scripts. That’s because once you have understood the format, you can write much faster, just as you imagine it.

Try reading the script of the famous movie Phone Booth written by Larry Cohen. You’ll get it here. It’s awesome.

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