British Comedy Guide

Telephone conversation

I don't know if this has been asked before (I'd be embarrassed if it were me who asked!) But, I want to write a telephone conversation between two people where you can see each person as they speak. You see person 1 speak then cut to the second person speak and then back to person one etc. As these two people are in two separate rooms, is this a new scene every time? Thanks in advance.

You could have them both split down the same screen. Saves all the camera panning & what not. Can make a viewer dizzy that. Someone else may have an ideas though. Seeing as i know fookall really.

Just put 'INTERCUT' and, if you feel compelled to:

Scene X. INT. LOUNGE / EXT. PHONE BOX - DAY

More importantly - don't worry. As long as it's clear what's going on, and it's mostly laid out correctly it'll be fine.

'Angled' shot of caller and reciever on video phone

INT. LIVING ROOM. DAY

John is talking to Jane on the phone.

Inter cut: Jane is pacing around the kitchen.

That's what is generally used.

Quote: hotzappa11 @ January 14, 2008, 10:36 PM

INT. LIVING ROOM. DAY

John is talking to Jane on the phone.

Inter cut: Jane is pacing around the kitchen.

That's what is generally used.

I believe what I said was more correct - it was taken from a BBC info thing that used to be on their site.

It's still on the site - see BBC Writers Room

Do you know what? All this jargon about how to set out your script really, really bores me. So I was wondering, do you think I could pay someone to come round to my house, and type out my script, while I read it to them?

Why stop there? Why not pay some other guy to read it out and while you're at it, someone else could write the fooker for you!

Job done! :)

I guess you'd be a Producer then. Gee you've come on leaps and bounds catskillz!!!

Quote: catskillz @ January 15, 2008, 12:40 AM

All this jargon about how to set out your script really, really bores me.

It's boring but I guess that's why script-readers put so much emphasis on format: because by one glance it tells them who REALLY wants to cut through the crowd.

;)

Quote: Seefacts @ January 14, 2008, 10:43 PM

I believe what I said was more correct - it was taken from a BBC info thing that used to be on their site.

If you say so. :P

I don't think there's that much jargon is there?

It's just about explaining things clearly in the correct formatting.

When it comes to being creative, and coming up with ideas, I can work for hours on end. But when it comes to work that doesn't involve any creativity, I'm the laziest bastard you'll ever meet. It was the same when I was in school; I used to regularly come first in art exams, but my pictures would never have any colour on them, because I found colouring in so boring, compared to drawing. I prefered to just keep on drawing, until there was no more empty space left on the paper.

Quote: catskillz @ January 15, 2008, 4:43 PM

When it comes to being creative, and coming up with ideas, I can work for hours on end. But when it comes to work that doesn't involve any creativity, I'm the laziest bastard you'll ever meet. It was the same when I was in school; I used to regularly come first in art exams, but my pictures would never have any colour on them, because I found colouring in so boring, compared to drawing. I prefered to just keep on drawing, until there was no more empty space left on the paper.

Get something that'll do the layouts for you, it helps.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll get some one to type it out and then read it to me. :)

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