Screenwriting : Character's description by Niksa Maric

Hey Niksa, it largely depends on your style and whether or not the reveal of the 'man's voice' is clear when we first see him. I have seen it done several different ways. I always feel for clarity it is best to use the character's name followed by (VO) afterward so we know it is voice over.

Thank you, Jason. I wanted to use his name as well but I wasn't sure because of this 15-20 min. gap between opening scene and his first introduction.

It doesn't matter if it's even an hour gap difference from the start. If he or she is an active character it's better to use his or her name. I normally use those kinds of stuff ( "man's voice", Narrator, etc) for characters who just flash in a scene.

When I’ve done that, I used their name then a brief character description in a parenthetical so the reader knew what they sounded like.

Kay Luke, what if you have about two or more characters who are doing the narration and none of them has been introduced yet.

Depends if you want the reader to know.

You can just tell the reader.

DAVE a tall man enters the room.

DAVE

Hi everyone.

We recognise Dave as the voice of the narrator.

I like to remember that you are writing for the audience, not so much the reader of the script. It is the dialogue which the audience will hear / see, not all the other information (scene, body text, names etc.), that is for the cast and crew. This is also a good reminder to cleverly 'name drop' for the audience sake because, although the script reader sees 'JOE' over dialogue, the audience only gets the dialogue or scene queues (name badges etc.).

The Road Warrior has an unidentified VOICE OVER on page 1. The audience learns the V.O. is the MUTE KID in the last scene.

The Shape Of Water opens with a dream sequence and voice over: GILES/NARRATOR. Giles does not appear on screen until page 4: GILES.

If you want his or her voice to be heard you have to use his name so everyone knows whose voice they have to apply to the film.