Writing a sci-fi script about time travelers going back to 1930s Nazi Germany. The characters sometimes need to speak German. In Final Draft, what is the proper way to show they are speaking German with English subtitles? Here's the way I did it:
GESTAPO AGENT 1 - Character
(in German - English subtitles) - Parenthetical
Halt or I’ll shoot! - Dialog
happy to be wrong but my method below from one of my scripts with foreign speakers.
At end of day, be consistent and make it clear and obvious to reader. There are probably several acceptable ways though. If you an awesome story and a studio/producer/agent loves it, then little things like this can easily be changed so wont be a deal breaker. But if rest of your script is unprofessional and not up to standard, then you got no hope. I have read several ways to do it and it seems some people have a preference so choose a way that works.
RUSSIAN NAVAL OFFICER (SUBTITLE)
and just write his dialogue here.
or I had an English speaking character who was also able to speak Russian. So I'd write.
NELL
(In Russian. Subtitled)
I am Nell. Doctor. This is John.