Quick formatting question.  Working on my comedy feature and got a question? My two leads switch bodies and remain that way for a large chunk of the script. Now, after the switch, do I refer to them as by their character's name or the name of the body they are in? Ex: Once Cameron is in Penny's body (sexy) do I refer to him as Cameron or Penny? I always seem to write myself into these dilehmas. Thanks for the help.

I would keep it the same.  The actress playing Penny is still going to stay the same and read all the lines associated with that character, even though she would essentially be acting as Cameron after the switch.

The switch should be in the dialogue/mannerisms.

Hope that explains it.

Shelton to the rescue... AS ALWAYS.

Face/off would be a good script to read for help on that.

I would also throw out Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, paying especial attention to the Gollum/Smeagol "interactions."

I'm talking more of a "vice/versa", "like father like son" deal

I believe there would have to be some level of distinction between them, but at the same time, the actress would have to do what she is reading. From that angle, I've done something similar when I did an episode with the Guardians: Outlook virtual series. I can't find it offhand online anywhere, it was episode 1x04 called Changes (I think) where the 4 main characters all switched bodies. It was edited very badly, and I hate the final version wth a freakin' passion because the series creator destroyed about 100% of the humor and pacing I had in it by changing stuff around (no, I'm not bitter...), but for that I did maintain the characters' original names regardless of the personality within. After the change, I just noted it like this:

JAMES (as RUBEN)
Is everyone all right?

No, I doubt that's the actual line (in fact, I don't recall if those two even switched), but you get the idea. From that point on, James' dialogue was written as just James, but using Ruben's personality and character. Same with all the other ones. For a swap between two characters you would be writing it from an audience perspective, and since they would see the actress playing Penny, regardless of whose voice comes out, her dialogue should remain as Penny.

Thanks Mr Wilson,

It's almost that time and this is a pressing issue that's not really addressed in any of my books on the craft. As the index cards continue to fill my wall, i wanted to make sure I got this right.