Animal sounds and Human screams in screenplays

ONLY DIALOGUE IS DIALOGUE 

by Dave Trottier

I receive dialogue questions all the time, and here are three question and answers that shed some light on exactly what dialogue is.  

QUESTION 1.  What is the proper format to use for an animal that makes animal sounds, but who also talks? 

For example:  A dog barks, then in a human voice says, “Hey, cut that out!”

ANSWER

Animal sounds should be written as narrative description.  That’s because only words are considered to be dialogue.  Thus, you would write your example as follows.

Sparky barks, and then speaks in English.

                        SPARKY

           Hey, cut that out!

QUESTION 2.  How does one write non-conversational vocal sounds, like screams?  Are they written as action [narrative description]?  Or are they placed under a character’s name [as in the example below]?

ANSWER

Screams, yelps, and such are sounds, and should be written as narrative description.  Dialogue consists of spoken or shouted words only.  The following is correct.

Lori screams. 

Notice that I did not write the sound (screams) in CAPS.  You may CAP important sounds if you wish, but it is no longer necessary in spec writing.

QUESTION 3.  I have a scene where a character discovers a journal and reads an entry from it.  Since it’s not really up to me whether the character reads the entry aloud or if the actual entry is displayed on screen, how should I format this in the script?  

ANSWER

Before I answer the question, let me make two points.  First, don’t be ambiguous in a screenplay. Write what we see and hear.  Either the character reads the journal out loud or the audience reads it silently—you decide in the screenplay.  Yes, the director may change what you wrote later, but at least give him or her a vision of what you see.

Second, only dialogue is dialogue.  You can only write in dialogue words that are spoken, shouted, or whispered.

Now, in answer to your question, I see two ways to approach this formatting problem.

If the journal entry is very short, you might consider allowing the audience to read it.  Use the INSERT for that.

INSERT - NATASHA’S JOURNAL, which reads: 

           “I love Boris, but I plan to leave

           him for Fearless Leader.” 

If the journal entry is longer, then perhaps your character can read it to the audience.  

 Boris tiptoes into Natasha’s room, spots her journal, and turns to the last page.  His eyes soften.

                        NATASHA (V.O.)

            I love Boris, but I plan to leave 
            him for Fearless Leader.  Why?  His
            silly mustache tickles me.

 About Dave Trottier

As an award-winning teacher and in-demand script consultant, Dave loves working with writers.

He has helped hundreds of writers break into the writing biz, and has sold or optioned ten screenplays (three produced). He is also the author of eight books, including The Screenwriter’s Bible (now in its 7th edition).

Additionally, he writes a column as Dr. Format for Script Magazine and hosts the helpful web site keepwriting.com.