Use quote marks. Use underlining. Use Bold. Use whatever you want to tell your story.
Just tell the best story you can and use any tool you can to communicate the story as best you can.
I have an opening line (note to reader) in a script that people constantly missed. So I made it Uppercase, Italics and underlined. No one misses it now. No more confusion.
Well, no, it's not just the context but also the form. If a character is reading something out loud, like reading from a book or singing lyrics to an existing song, then quotation marks are used within her/his dialogue.
Example from The Screenwriter's Bible:
McKAY
"Oh, ye'll tak' the high road
And I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye."
Never say never, and ignore those who give you only absolute "rules." There are always exceptions to everything or situations that call for the contrary. There's always complexity in screenwriting. Gray areas. Best to you! :)
if it comes out of character's mouth as dialogue, write it as dialogue. Can start with a quick parenthetical "(reading)" for clarity. But agree w/ Doug N that you don't want this to drag on
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If they’re speaking it, just write it as a normal line of dialogue. Context will take care of the rest.
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Use quote marks. Use underlining. Use Bold. Use whatever you want to tell your story.
Just tell the best story you can and use any tool you can to communicate the story as best you can.
I have an opening line (note to reader) in a script that people constantly missed. So I made it Uppercase, Italics and underlined. No one misses it now. No more confusion.
4 people like this
Well, no, it's not just the context but also the form. If a character is reading something out loud, like reading from a book or singing lyrics to an existing song, then quotation marks are used within her/his dialogue.
Example from The Screenwriter's Bible:
McKAY
"Oh, ye'll tak' the high road
And I'll tak' the low,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye."
Never say never, and ignore those who give you only absolute "rules." There are always exceptions to everything or situations that call for the contrary. There's always complexity in screenwriting. Gray areas. Best to you! :)
1 person likes this
"Character" holds book as he/she reads outloud
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How 'bout an INSERT with VO? It's a movie - make it visual.
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In that situation, I like to put it in quotes and use italics for the font style.
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Andrea, I see no problem with using quotation marks...whether a character's reading from a book, a letter, or even a TV screen or computer monitor.
All the VERY BEST to you, and thanks for posting!
Thank you all so much!
if it comes out of character's mouth as dialogue, write it as dialogue. Can start with a quick parenthetical "(reading)" for clarity. But agree w/ Doug N that you don't want this to drag on