I always thought that while writing screenplays and teleplays, that you are supposed to place all dialogue within quotation marks, just because it's speech. But i just sent my teleplay for a 10 page review, and the last thing that reviewer said to me was that i do not need to place every line of dialogue within quotation marks.
Now is she just referring to scripts written for television, or screenplays for movies as well? And if yes for both, then how can this be? It's speech right, you are writing down what your characters say, i mean does that not justify placing their words within quotation marks?
Thanks.
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Hey, Dwayne Pagnotto. You don't need to put dialogue in quotation marks. Producers, actors, directors, etc. will know it's dialogue because it's in the middle of the page. I only put dialogue in quotation marks if a character is quoting someone, mocking someone, or reading from a letter/book/etc.
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Hey Dwayne, I believe the way they are interpreted as this:
When you post your Dialogues and you are Centered with the (NAME) being in Parentheticals, whatever you post under that name they understand to be that persons dialogue or voice or speech or statement.
Hope that makes sense? That is what we have 'Screenplay Formatting and Screenplay Writing Programs?
So that IF we are writing in the correct F O R M A T it's a gimmie. They (Actors, Pubs, Directors, Producers etc... will know it . . . when they see it.
This is also a great LESSON for those who wish to submit their 3-6-& 10 page treatments for consideration.
The Pro's a STERN on FORMATTING, so that THEY UNDERSTAND without having to ASK or GUESS what they are reading!
Cheers mate! Hope that helps!
Always Sir Nicholas In Seattle
9.6.2023 INT -- From My Desk To Yours -- 4:06pm (pst) :--)))
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Good question. I second what Maurice says here!
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You never want quotation marks in dialogue.
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Thank you my man Maurice, for answering my question in the simplest terms possible. Very much appreciated as always my friend. You are the best.
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Thanks Nicholas, for your very informative answer my friend. I really enjoyed it. Much appreciated my friend.
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Thanks Dan and Nick. Very grateful for all yer help.Take care.
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You're welcome, @Dwayne Pagnotto.
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Dwayne Pagnotto It just goes to show you, Dwayne, that there are lots of people out there giving others 'advice' on how to write and format and they don't know what they're talking about! However, you are now in the right place to get the correct advice about all things screenwriting. Have fun!
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Never put dialogue in quotation marks unless its actually a quote, like your character is quoting a book or someone else. Whoever told u that needs to stop giving writing advice.
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Certainly check out a few produced scripts, Dwayne Pagnotto. You'll be able to see how things tend to be formatted from there, plus how different they can be too.
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Right, dialogue does NOT get quotation marks like it would in a novel. There's a lot of tricks to formatting that might not be immediately obvious. I'd advise picking up a book on writing screenplays. You may be able to find some in the library. There's also some good overviews online. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/brilliant-script-screenplay-format/
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Here are some sites with good info. Also, if you use Final Draft software, it makes it all really easy. Good luck with your writing!
Script Format Guidebookhttps://mwp.com/product/hollywood-standard-third-edition-complete-author...
Script Format – No Film School
https://nofilmschool.com/script-screenplay-format
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Thanks a lot Mike and Pamela. Your advice and website offerings are very much appreciated.
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I use Celtx for formatting. it's pretty easy to use.
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Dwayne Pagnotto I have a script in my profile you can look at to see how to format a spec screenplay.
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Hi @Dwayne! I would just reiterate what everyone else has said about not needing quotations at all. I would also add that you should just read as many scripts as you possibly can, in your genre, outside your genre, whatever you can find. The more you read the more you'll understand the hard formatting rules and the ones that lots of professional writers play around with
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Thanks a lot Suzanna, Dan and Emily, for all your feedback and the additional advice you've given. It's very much appreciated.