if my characters are speaking French, would it be better for me to write the dialogue in French or just write '(they speak in French) in the action part?
Anything Goes : Writing in a foreign language by Ryan Avery
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Hope this helps: https://www.wescreenplay.com/blog/how-to-format-dialogue-in-another-lang...
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thank you! Super helpful!
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INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
John and Maria sit at a table, sipping coffee. Maria looks worried.
MARIA
(Spanish)
No puedo creer que haya pasado eso.
John looks concerned, not understanding.
JOHN
(confused)
What's going on?
MARIA
I can't believe that happened.
In this example:
Maria's dialogue is in Spanish and is enclosed in parentheses.
The language "Spanish" is specified to inform the reader and potentially the actors.
John's response indicates his confusion, providing a cue for the audience that he doesn't understand the language spoken.
Remember, the specific format may vary, and it's important to be consistent throughout the screenplay. If the non-English dialogue is a significant part of the story, consider whether it's necessary to include translations or provide context for the audience.
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Great share, Marcel Nault Jr.
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Mario Leone I don't think you need "(confused)" under John's name since you put "John looks concerned, not understanding" before he talks.
It depends Maurice Vaughan In this case I wanted the person in the story to be confused lol