I have a scene which is all voice over. The action (a police interview) that is happening at the same time is important. I need to be able to describe the action that is happening as well as action that can be heard in the voice over. How would you describe a sound that is happening in voice over? I have done it using normal formatting, but it is s hard read. I was thinking of doing it the same as simultaneous dialogue.
Screenwriting : Formatting voice over. by Craig D Griffiths
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
1 person likes this
Are you talking about formatting sound as dual dialogue with the V.O.? If so, I wouldn't do it that way.
1 person likes this
If you read page 30 of Kubrick's Napoleon script, you may find an idea. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9DS_zk2FintNmFkZjM3ODUtMzY0ZS00Mzg0LWFh...
Create a character, indicating "voice over" or v.o. Fuse it in between action lines and dialogues (if they are). Something like this; Scene= Action line= Voice over= Action line= Voice over= Dialogue= Voice over= and so on. Voice overs are in the background, I think the director would understand the format. Hope this helps. Happy writing!
I would suggest speaking with someone whose job is to describe what they are seeing. How about a sports announcer, such as those who work at radio stations? They have to describe what is going on.
@Dan OS would indicate that they are just not in shot, like in another room. These are true disembodied voices.
Thanks everyone. I have had a few goes at it. Still reads not as smooth as I'd like. There are specific sound queue which should be in action lines. But it is then confusing with the actions I am describing in the room. I am after the feel that I lifted the audio of one scene and laid it over the visuals of a different scene. It isn't standard so there isn't an obvious solution. Perhaps parentheticals for the sound in the voice over.
I think the problem is that a screenplay is a visual medium with all the tools focusing on telling a visual story. I need an audio tool since I am relying on sound in this scene.