The Phone Call.

[Jay Paterson]

I'm writing a phone call scene (several actually) between 2 characters in The Wolfpack pilot and was wondering if i'm doing it right. This may seem like a stupid question but I thought I'd ask just in case.

I was just wonder if i should cut back and forth between the two settings? for example writing the slug line out each time someones about to talk.

[Jamison]

Well, there's no right or wrong way to do it, I don't think, but telephone conversations can be a bit tricky. I normally use a method called INTERCUT, where you establish the two separate locations only once, than add something like "INTERCUT with scene # 2" and follow that up with the dialogue, that way you don't have to repeat the scene heading every time you change locations.

Example:

INT. MEGAN'S ROOM - DAY

A telephone rings. Megan picks it up and puts it to her ear.

MEGAN
(into phone)
Hello?


INT. JESSE'S ROOM - DAY

Jesse sits on his bed, grinning.

JESSE
(into phone)
Hey, Megan. It's Jesse,
from school.

INTERCUT with Megan's room.

MEGAN
(into phone)
Jesse!? Ew. How did you
get this number?

JESSE
(into phone)
Uhm... I gotta go! Bye!

Or, if you just want to stay on one location, and focus on one of the two people on the phone, you can just use parentheticals like (OVER PHONE) or (V.O.). Hope that helps.

[David]

You could cut the screen in half and have a character on each side. Your way also works

[Jay Paterson]

Thanks, Chris. That makes sense, and helps a lot. I felt silly typing slug lines so many times so i think i'll use the inter-cut idea. Also just another question, do you have to put (into phone) throughout the conversation?

And thanks, David for the input. I'm just not a fan of split screen.

[Jay Paterson]

Also, I hope it all works out for Jesse. I feel bad for the kid. XD

[Jamison]

I personally don't think it's needed all of the time, but I would put it in there just to make sure no one gets confused when reading the scene; thinking the characters are in the same room, instead of over the phone. So, just to avoid any confusion, I would put it throughout the conversation.

Edit: Haha! Yeah, he gets the girl, eventually. Though, I'm sure Megan is a succubus so, he loses in the long run.