character-dialogue

Apply this skill when:

• Introducing characters
• Writing dialogue blocks
• Formatting character names
• Handling dual dialogue
• Using character extensions

Basic Format

Character names must be:

• ALL UPPERCASE
• On their own line
• Preceded by a blank line
• Followed immediately by dialogue (no blank line)

```fountain

SARAH

Hello, John.

```

Character Extensions

Extensions appear in parentheses after the name:

| Extension | Meaning | When to Use |

|-----------|---------|-------------|

| (V.O.) | Voice Over | Character narrating or not in scene |

| (O.S.) | Off Screen | Character in scene but not visible |

| (O.C.) | Off Camera | Same as O.S. (alternate) |

| (CONT'D) | Continued | Same speaker after action interruption |

| (PRE-LAP) | Pre-lap | Audio starts before scene |

| (INTO PHONE) | Delivery | Speaking into phone |

| (INTO RADIO) | Delivery | Speaking into radio |

| (SUBTITLE) | Translation | Foreign dialogue translated |

```fountain

SARAH (V.O.)

I never should have trusted him.

JOHN (O.S.)

Sarah? Are you home?

SARAH

In here!

She turns toward the door.

SARAH (CONT'D)

I wasn't expecting you.

```

Forcing Mixed-Case Names

Use @ prefix for names that aren't all caps:

```fountain

@McCLANE

Yippee ki-yay.

@DeVITO

Don't start with me.

```

Basic Dialogue

```fountain

SARAH

This is a line of dialogue. It can

span multiple lines naturally.

```

Dialogue with Parenthetical

```fountain

SARAH

(hesitant)

I don't think that's a good idea.

JOHN

(laughing)

You always say that.

(serious now)

But this time I agree.

```

Parenthetical Guidelines

• Use sparingly
• Brief direction only
• Lower case
• On own line within dialogue block
• Don't overuse - trust actors

Good parentheticals:

```fountain

(whispering)

(to John)

(beat)

(re: the gun)

(into phone)

```

Bad parentheticals (avoid):

```fountain

(angrily, as if she can't believe what she's hearing)

(walking across the room and picking up the vase)

```

Characters speaking at the same time:

```fountain

JACK

I love you!

JILL ^

I hate you!

```

The ^ after the second character name triggers side-by-side formatting.

Dual Dialogue Guidelines

• Use for overlapping speech
• Second character gets the ^
• Both should be roughly equal length
• Don't overuse - can be hard to follow

First Appearance Format

When a character first appears, their name is typically CAPITALIZED in action:

```fountain

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

SARAH CHEN (30s, sharp eyes, perpetually exhausted)

sits alone at a corner table.

```

Introduction Best Practices

• Age range, not exact age
• Brief physical impression
• One character-defining detail
• Active description when possible

Good introductions:

```fountain

JOHN MARCUS (40s, ex-military bearing, softened by life)

DETECTIVE PARK (50s, seen too much, says too little)

YOUNG SARAH (8, all skinned knees and fierce determination)

```

Avoid:

```fountain

SARAH, a beautiful woman in her 30s, enters. // "beautiful" is vague

JOHN is tall with brown hair and blue eyes. // casting details

```

Naming Rules

• Pick one name, use it consistently
• Avoid switching between SARAH/MS. CHEN/SHE
• If character is known differently by different people, pick one for script

Exception Patterns

```fountain

// Character is introduced under false identity

STRANGER (later revealed as JOHN)

Nice to meet you.

// Later, after reveal

JOHN

Sorry about the deception.

```

Line Length

• Keep lines speakable (read aloud)
• Break at natural breath points
• One thought per line when possible

Subtext

• Characters rarely say exactly what they mean
• Let action contradict words
• Use pauses and silence

```fountain

SARAH

I'm fine.

She stares out the window, knuckles white on her coffee cup.

```

Avoiding "On the Nose"

Instead of:

```fountain

JOHN

I'm angry because you betrayed me and now I can't trust you.

```

Try:

```fountain

JOHN

(quiet)

I think you should leave.

```

• [ ] Character names in UPPERCASE
• [ ] Blank line before character names
• [ ] No blank line between name and dialogue
• [ ] Extensions in (PARENTHESES)
• [ ] Parentheticals are brief and necessary
• [ ] Mixed-case names use @ prefix
• [ ] Dual dialogue uses ^ on second character
• [ ] Character names are consistent throughout