SimplyScripts Discussion Board
Blog Home - Produced Movie Script Library - TV Scripts - Unproduced Scripts - Contact - Site Map
ScriptSearch
Welcome, Guest.
It is April 16th, 2024, 6:55pm
Please login or register.
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login
Please do read the guidelines that govern behavior on the discussion board. It will make for a much more pleasant experience for everyone. A word about SimplyScripts and Censorship


Produced Script Database (Updated!)

Short Script of the Day | Featured Script of the Month | Featured Short Scripts Available for Production
Submit Your Script

How do I get my film's link and banner here?
All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
Forum Login
Username: Create a new Account
Password:     Forgot Password

SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  (V.O) vs. (O.S.) question Moderators: George Willson
Users Browsing Forum
Googlebot and 7 Guests

 Pages: 1
Recommend Print
  Author    (V.O) vs. (O.S.) question  (currently 888 views)
Warren
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 2:22am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
I'm writing a new feature and I'm not sure how to handle this.

If the script is essentially the blueprint for the film, should I be trying to trick the reader?

The situation is this, I have a voice coming from another room which is a recorded voice The 'twist' is that it's not the real person, on screen this will be obvious when it's found out, but in the script do I write it as O.S. essentially tricking the reader or do I go straight for V.O. in which case the reader will know something else is going on.

Currently I'm writing it as O.S. until its found by the characters to actually be a V.O. and then I change it to that.

Thanks in advance.


Logged
Private Message
HyperMatt
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 2:46am Report to Moderator
New



Location
London, UK
Posts
440
Posts Per Day
0.17
I had a similar question a few months ago (there is a thread but I don’t know how to hyperlink it here).
I think you should keep it as O.S., as at this point we believe it’s a voice in the other room. Yes trick the reader!  Use all the tools in your possession to make a compelling screenplay.


Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 1 - 12
SAC
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 6:00am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


… but some dreams do

Location
Upstate NY
Posts
3203
Posts Per Day
0.78
I think if you mean to trick your character AND the viewer watching the movie, then also trick the reader. O.S.



Revision History (1 edits)
SAC  -  May 17th, 2018, 9:40am
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 2 - 12
Dreamscale
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 8:54am Report to Moderator
Guest User



O.S. for sure.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 3 - 12
LC
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 9:56am Report to Moderator
Administrator



Location
The Great Southern Land
Posts
7615
Posts Per Day
1.34
Ditto to what Jeff and Steve and Hyperactive said.  


Logged
Private Message Reply: 4 - 12
Warren
Posted: May 17th, 2018, 5:00pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
Thanks all, will leave it as is.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 5 - 12
MarkRenshaw
Posted: May 26th, 2018, 4:04am Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
UK
Posts
2335
Posts Per Day
0.58
Just to add, as a guideline you write the screenplay as the audience would experience it. So you don't give away any twists until the moment the audience would experience it also. Thus, the O.S. until the moment it is revealed it is a recorded voice.


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
Logged Offline
Site Private Message Reply: 6 - 12
Warren
Posted: May 26th, 2018, 4:23am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36
Cheers, Mark.

Definitely what I'm sticking with.


Logged
Private Message Reply: 7 - 12
ajr
Posted: May 26th, 2018, 7:01am Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Posts
1482
Posts Per Day
0.28
Not sure how this would ever be a V.O., even once the twist is revealed?

O.S. is anything that's part of the "world" of the screenplay that the audience doesn't see, and that would include a recorded, non-human voice.

V.O. is narration, or the inner thoughts of a character, which doesn't "exist" in the world you're creating, and is meant to speak directly to the audience and not the other characters.


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 8 - 12
Warren
Posted: May 26th, 2018, 6:46pm Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


A man who has taught his mind to misbehave

Location
Sydney, Australia
Posts
3897
Posts Per Day
1.36

Quoted from ajr
Not sure how this would ever be a V.O., even once the twist is revealed?

O.S. is anything that's part of the "world" of the screenplay that the audience doesn't see, and that would include a recorded, non-human voice.

V.O. is narration, or the inner thoughts of a character, which doesn't "exist" in the world you're creating, and is meant to speak directly to the audience and not the other characters.


I think we have a slightly different understanding of V.O. vs O.S.

I'll definitely be going with my version.

A quick Google search gave me this:

"V.O. is used when the speaker is not physically in the scene. The speaker could be someone on the other end of a telephone line or radio broadcast, an unseen narrator, or a character’s inner-monologue."

A radio broadcast is part of the world and isn't that different to what I have.

Phone conversations are speaking directly to the character and not the audience and are also formatted as voice overs.



Revision History (2 edits; 1 reasons shown)
Warren  -  May 26th, 2018, 7:09pm
Logged
Private Message Reply: 9 - 12
ajr
Posted: May 26th, 2018, 7:09pm Report to Moderator
Old Timer



Posts
1482
Posts Per Day
0.28
Correct, I don't think I explained myself properly - phone calls and radio broadcasts are written as V.O. and are part of the world of the screenplay - I guess what's confusing me about your example is that you have a voice coming from the other room, written as O.S., and only the nature of the voice changes, not the proximity to the scene... ?


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 10 - 12
eldave1
Posted: May 28th, 2018, 12:47pm Report to Moderator
January Project Group



Location
Southern California
Posts
6874
Posts Per Day
1.94

Quoted from Warren
I'm writing a new feature and I'm not sure how to handle this.

If the script is essentially the blueprint for the film, should I be trying to trick the reader?

The situation is this, I have a voice coming from another room which is a recorded voice The 'twist' is that it's not the real person, on screen this will be obvious when it's found out, but in the script do I write it as O.S. essentially tricking the reader or do I go straight for V.O. in which case the reader will know something else is going on.

Currently I'm writing it as O.S. until its found by the characters to actually be a V.O. and then I change it to that.

Thanks in advance.


I would go with O.S. From your premise, I'm assuming that your character (let's call him John) is hearing the voice of someone from the other room (let's call her Jane) and even though it's a recorded voice - it's tone, etc make it seems like a real voice to John.

To add more misdirection (again not sure of the premise) I would even have the voice as a character (e.g., maybe John looks at a picture of JANE - then it's JANE (O.S).

Make sure you hit me up for a read when you're done. I owe you a ton
  


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 11 - 12
DustinBowcot
Posted: May 28th, 2018, 1:58pm Report to Moderator
Guest User



Yeah, OS, would be correct here. The VO is OS, after all. Yes, you should be trying to trick the reader. I find it way more entertaining when a writer messes with my expectations.
Logged
e-mail Reply: 12 - 12
 Pages: 1
Recommend Print

Locked Board Board Index    Screenwriting Class  [ previous | next ] Switch to:
Was Portal Recent Posts Home Help Calendar Search Register Login

Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post polls
You may not post attachments
HTML is on
Blah Code is on
Smilies are on


Powered by E-Blah Platinum 9.71B © 2001-2006