Ask Dr. Format: Five Questions

DAVE TROTTIER has sold or optioned ten screenplays (three produced) and helped hundreds of writers break into the writing business.  He is an award-winning teacher and script consultant, author of The Screenwriter’s Bible, and friendly host of keepwriting.com.  Read more tips on the Ask Dr. Format page.

Dr. Format

FIVE QUESTIONS

QUESTION

Please answer the following formatting questions, if you'd be so kind.

ANSWER

I'll list them below for you, first your numbered questions in Italics, followed by my answers. (Reader, how many of these do you already know the answer to?)

Question 1. How do I format a scene where the characters talk, but we don't hear it (muted conversation as background music is playing)? Do I just write, A and B in a heated argument etc.?

Use MOS. MOS means "without sound." So you could write something like this:

Andrea and Roberto argue MOS.

Question 2. a) Can I have 2 consecutive montages? b) If yes, can I have 2 consecutive montages in the same location but during different time like night and the next morning?

Yes, but it seems odd that you would need two, but there's no rule against it. With your Question #b, just have one montage with a change in time. In other words, separate the first montage from the second with a secondary scene heading indicating the time change:

NEXT MORNING

Question 3. How do I format a scene where the conversation is heard in very low volume like we just hear, ok, hmm etc.,? Do I just write the dialogues or should I mention that the conversation is heard feebly on screen?

Just describe what we hear, and if the audience hears the words, then write them out as dialogue. For example:

Skinny speaks so softly, the words can be barely heard.

                    SKINNY
          There's a g-ghost behind you.

Question 4. When describing action, I have seen in many scripts, 3 hyphens "---" is that correct?

For a dash in narrative description or dialogue, use a space, followed by two hyphens, followed by a space -- like that. Don't use three.

Question 5. Can I use the word "some" in scene heading like "SOME HELIPAD", "SOME RESTAURANT" where it is not absolutely essential to mention the exact town or city name?

Mention the exact town or place if that's important. Otherwise, just write helipad or restaurant; for example:

EXT. HELIPAD – DAY

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