Scripting a telephone conversation

Hi, I was wondering if someone would be able to help me out with this: I want to write a telephone conversation into my script but i'm not really sure how to do it. I particularly like the idea of having a split screen so that you can see both people in different locations. I think they did this in Coupling but I can't find any scripts for that online. Would you have to state the location before each character speaks like in the following example?:

Ext. Bus stop

Bill
Hey!

Int. Beedroom

Ryan
Alright Bill

And so on

Surely this would get a bit tedious would it not?

Quote: Johnny Green @ September 4 2008, 7:22 PM BST

Hi, I was wondering if someone would be able to help me out with this: I want to write a telephone conversation into my script but i'm not really sure how to do it. I particularly like the idea of having a split screen so that you can see both people in different locations. I think they did this in Coupling but I can't find any scripts for that online. Would you have to state the location before each character speaks like in the following example?:

Ext. Bus stop

Bill
Hey!

Int. Beedroom

Ryan
Alright Bill

And so on

Surely this would get a bit tedious would it not?

View original

KITCHEN / OFFICE

INTERCUT

Or

KITCHEN / OFFICE

SPLIT SCREEN

Just keep it simple and clear. You can't go wrong.

People don't usually phone from the beedroom - change the location also.

It would be:

EXT./INT. BUS STOP/BEDROOM. DAY. (INTERCUT)

BILL IS STANDING AT BUS STOP.

BILL:
(INTO PHONE) Hey.

RYAN IS IN BEDROOM.

RYAN:
(INTO PHONE)Alright Bill

Then you carry on the convo.
There is no need to keep adding the (INTO PHONE) after the initial times.

But remember to add a (HANGS UP PHONE) instruction in the dialogue of whoever hangs up.

You can change (INTERCUT) TO (SPLIT SCREEN) if required.

Quote: Mikey J @ September 4 2008, 8:02 PM BST

It would be:

EXT./INT. BUS STOP/BEDROOM. DAY. (INTERCUT)

BILL IS STANDING AT BUS STOP.

BILL:
(INTO PHONE) Hey.

RYAN IS IN BEDROOM.

RYAN:
(INTO PHONE)Alright Bill

Then you carry on the convo.
There is no need to keep adding the (INTO PHONE) after the initial times.

But remember to add a (HANGS UP PHONE) instruction in the dialogue of whoever hangs up.

You can change (INTERCUT) TO (SPLIT SCREEN) if required.

View original

I wouldn't say that was gospel though. If it's clear, concise and looks like a script it'll be fine.

What's the best way to script a telephone conversation where you can only see and hear one of the people on the phone. Is this the simplest way?

Int. Kitchen

Henry is on the phone.

Henry:
Yes. (PAUSE) It's spelt S-E-E-F-A-C-T-S. (PAUSE) You know him? (PAUSE) No, that was Griff. (PAUSE) I know, public toilets! etc

Quote: Winterlight @ September 4 2008, 9:57 PM BST

What's the best way to script a telephone conversation where you can only see and hear one of the people on the phone. Is this the simplest way?

Int. Kitchen

Henry is on the phone.

Henry:
Yes. (PAUSE) It's spelt S-E-E-F-A-C-T-S. (PAUSE) You know him? (PAUSE) No, that was Griff. (PAUSE) I know, public toilets! etc

View original

I'd do this.

WINTERLIGHT is talking on the phone.

WINTERLIGHT:
(Into phone)
Yeah, I know . . . I only spread those lies about Seefacts because I want to be him . . . I sometimes wish I had lady parts so I could show them to him . . . What? . . . Because I want him to love me etc.

Oh so you'd go for ...

Interesting.

Quote: Winterlight @ September 4 2008, 10:00 PM BST

Oh so you'd go for ...

Interesting.

View original

(Alan Partridge style)
Ladyboys!!

I don't think I know how to respond to that.

However, you just reminded me that I intended to watch some Partridge tonight. Good work.

Quote: Winterlight @ September 4 2008, 10:04 PM BST

I don't think I know how to respond to that.

However, you just reminded me that I intended to watch some Partridge tonight. Good work.

View original

I should point out I don't like lady boys. Honest!

To prove how manly and hetero I am, I'm sat here drinking a big glass of lager.

Not preceded by Baileys I might add!

Quote: Griff @ September 4 2008, 10:09 PM BST

Only ladyboys refer to "a glass of lager". It's a PINT of lager for real men.

View original

Ha!

Well, I don't have any pint glasses so it's in a kind of spotty coloured glass that probably came from John Lewis.

Quote: Griff @ September 4 2008, 10:09 PM BST

It's a PINT of lager for real men.

View original

Does that mean that Seefacts is make believe?

Quote: Winterlight @ September 4 2008, 10:11 PM BST

Does that mean that Seefacts is make believe?

View original

In some ways I'm am . . .

In factual ways, I'm not though.

I could drink it from the bottle but I find it goes warm really quickly.

Are you more a 'House of Fraser' man, Griff?