British Comedy Guide

Formatting a Phonecall

I'm currently writing something where there's a telephone conversation between two people and I want to show the action swapping between the two as they speak. How would I format this? Would using CUT TO: like this be acceptable or a bit messy:

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Int. Dave's House

Dave is on the phone.

Dave: Look, Terry, I can't help you right now.

CUT TO: Int. Terry's House

Terry is on the phone.

Terry: Dave, just hear me out!

CUT TO: Int. Dave's House

Dave is on the phone

Dave: Ok, I'll give you a minute.

CUT TO: Int. Terry's House

Terry is on the phone etc.
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I find the above a bit repetitive, but not sure what would be a better option. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Quote: JohnnyD @ June 4 2011, 3:22 PM BST

https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/9060/

Good advice and lots of flirting.

The glory days of BSG! Happy times. Will have a proper root through there. Cheers.

INT. DAVES HOUSE/INT.TERRY'S HOUSE-DAY.

DAVE and TERRY are talking on the phone.

That's as much instruction as you need to show that you're cutting between the two locations during the call.

Ah ok. I think I'll go with that. A lot clearer than anything I'd considered. Cheers to you as well, Sir Matt.

Or put

INTERCUT between DAVE and TERRY talking on the phone.

You could explain both the locations if it is not obvious.

Some shows have you write out both scenes on character oov in it and then the other in the next. I wouldn't do it in a spec script mind.

Quote: Marc P @ June 5 2011, 10:21 AM BST

Some shows have you write out both scenes on character oov in it and then the other in the next. I wouldn't do it in a spec script mind.

That presumably is how they film/record it.

Quote: billwill @ June 5 2011, 3:56 PM BST

That presumably is how they film/record it.

Yes it is easier for the director etc, especially is they are shooting lots of scenes out of context and sometimes lots of scenes from lots of different episodes in the same day.

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