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When is a phone call not just a phone call? When you have to show it, not tell it. How do you write a phone call in a screenplay? There are at least three different scenarios to consider when you want to insert a telephone conversation in your screenplay. We asked Screenwriter Doug Richardson (“Bad Boys,” “Hostage,” “Die Hard 2”) how he approaches telephone conversations in his screenplays, and he said screenwriters should consider these phone call situations:
Are we seeing and hearing only one character?
Are we seeing only one character, but hearing at least two?
Are we seeing and hearing both characters?
Give this some thought: It may be important to see both characters, perhaps because they’re doing something that matters to the story.
Or maybe, we only need to see and hear one character, and their action in the scene speaks volumes on its own. Determine what type of phone call scenario will be strongest in your story.
Once you’ve settled on how to show the phone call, learn how to write that scene in a traditional script. And guess what? We’ve got blogs for that! Here are three tutorials depending on your story’s scenario:
Or, read on for a synopsis of each phone call screenplay format and examples below.
How to Write a Phone Call in a Script With One Character
How do you format a telephone call in a screenplay where we only see and hear one character? The screenplay format for this kind of phone call follows a similar format for traditional dialogue. You can use beats, pauses, and action to show when the character that we do not see is talking, and how the character that we do see is reacting. For phone call format, use ellipses, parentheticals, and action description to indicate this.
Example of a Phone Call in a Screenplay Scene with One Character Using Ellipses
In a traditional screenplay, this line of dialogue would look like this:
One Character Phone Call Using Ellipses Script Snippet
JOHNATHON
(into phone)
Hey, Shelly! It's Johnathon. How's it going?...How about that for timing?...Hey, so I was wondering if you might like to grab a cup of coffee sometime? ...You would?
Example of a Phone Call in a Screenplay Scene with One Character Using Parentheticals
In a traditional screenplay, these lines of dialogue would look like this:
One Character Phone Call Using Parentheticals Script Snippet
JOHNATHON
(into phone)
Hey, Shelly! It's Johnathon. How's it going?
(beat)
How about that for timing?
(beat)
Hey, so I was wondering if you...
Example of a Phone Call in a Screenplay Scene with One Character Using Action Description
In a traditional screenplay, these lines of dialogue would look like this:
One Character Phone Call Using Action Description Script Snippet
JOHNATHON
(into phone)
Hey, Shelly! It's Johnathon. How's it going?...How about that for timing?... Hey, so I was wondering if you might like to grab a cup of coffee sometime?...
JOHNATHON holds the phone to his ear with his shoulder and pours a glass of wine.
JOHNATHON (CONT'D)
You would? Great!...How about Friday at 10?
How to Write a Phone Call in a Script With Two Characters
How do you format a phone call in a script where we hear two characters, but only see one of them? Use V.O., or voiceover, to indicate the character’s dialogue that we hear but cannot see being spoken. You can indicate voiceover using SoCreate’s Dialogue Type tool. If you’re more interested in the audience seeing the reactions and actions of only one character, but you need the second character to help tell the story, this is the correct scenario to choose. This is also a good option if you want to keep the location of the second character a secret from the audience for the time being.
Example of a Phone Call in a Script With Two Characters But Only One Character is Seen
Here’s what this scenario looks like in a traditional screenplay.
Two Character Phone Call With One Character Seen Script Snippet
INT. - JOHNATHON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
JOHNATHON nervously pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and dials SHELLY. The phone rings.
SHELLY (V.O.)
Hello?
JOHNATHON
Hey, Shelly! It's Johnathon. How's it going?
SHELLY (V.O.)
Hey, Johnathon. I'm so glad you called. Everything is good here. I just got home from work.
JOHNATHON
How about that for timing? Hey, so I was wondering if you might like to grab a cup of coffee sometime?
SHELLY (V.O.)
I would absolutely love to!
JOHNATHON
You would? Great! How about Friday at 10?
How to Write a Phone Call in a Script Where Both Characters Are Seen and Heard
To format a phone call in a screenplay where both characters are seen and heard, you’ll want to use intercuts. First, introduce both character’s locations with master scene headings. Then, write out an intercut slugline. An intercut slugline for a phone call between two people could look like any of these three options:
INTERCUT CHARACTER 1 NAME / CHARACTER 2 NAME
INTERCUT CHARACTER 1 LOCATION / CHARACTER 2 LOCATION
INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION
Example of a Phone Call in Script Where Two Characters Are Seen and Heard
Here’s what this phone call would look like if you exported your SoCreate script to a traditional screenplay format. The intercut tool in SoCreate is coming soon!
Two Character Phone Call With Both Seen and Heard Script Snippet
INT. - JOHNATHON'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
JOHNATHON nervously pull his CELL PHONE out of his pocket and dials SHELLY. The phone RINGS.
INT. - SHELLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
SHELLY
Hello?
INTERCUT - JOHNATHON'S APARTMENT/SHELLY'S HOUSE
JOHNATHON
Hey Shelly! It's Johnathon. How's it going?
SHELLY
Hey, Johnathon. I'm so glad you called. Everything is good here. I just got home from work.
JOHNATHON
How about that for timing? Hey, so I was wondering if you might like to grab a cup of coffee sometime?
SHELLY
I would love to!
Don’t phone it in,
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