Ok. 1st time screenwriter here, I am actually excited about my work so far. The plot is basically about a brazilian Paparazzi and a washed up ex reality Tv contestant, don't want to get too much into it just jet :)

Anyways I have 2 questions regarding one scene that I am doing.

The scene involves my character talking on the phone in his native language (portuguese). In this scene we do not hear the other person (his mother).

My first question is how do I format the dialogue when someone is speaking on the phone and we can only hear the one person.

Is it like this?
                                             Person
                                  Bla bla bla bla bla
                                        (pause)
                                  bla bla bla bla bla
                                         (pause)

or do I do it like this             Person
                                 Bla bla bla bla bla

                                         Person (Continued)
                                bla bla bla bla lba

                                        Person (continued)
                                bla bla bla...

Second question is regarding subtiltes. Since all the dialogue in this scene is in portuguese how do I put it in the script? Do I just add a line saying that the whole scene is done and portugues then  proceed like this :

                                        Person
                                 (subtitles)
                               English Dialogue bla bla bla

Or do I write the portuguese dialog then add another subtitle line? If so how is this formatted?





Help greatly appreciated, this is kind of a tough one because this scene involves 2 challenges that I am not yet familiar with. But live and learn!!

For the telephone conversation, you could write it as:

                   PERSON
     blah blah blah.... blah blah blah
     blah...  blah blah...

The ellipses  (...) show a pause in the talking.

If everything is in portuguese (or any single language), then you don't have to mention in at all.  Just let it go.


Phil

Ok I got the telephone part. But didn't quite understand what you meant with the subs...

What do you mean just let it go? I have to let the audience know what is being talked about since it is important, therefore it should be in the script to right?

If an entire movie is done in one language, then there's no reason to say what language it is or use subtitles.  It's not important.  It would be one thing if several languages were used and you had to differeniate from them.

Phil

I dont think you understand. The whole movie is in english, it is just this one scene that is in portuguese.

Anyways just for the info, how are subtitles done in screenplays?

PERSON
(in Portuguese)
Well, you don't seem very glad to
hear from me, do ya?

I'm sure if the conversation has relevance, the director would know to use subtitles here.

I thought the whole script was in Portuguese.  My bad.

Slabstaa has it right.


Phil