Hey, I couldn't find anyone asking this on the boards... But we got a bit of discussion going on lately about how to format dialogue when it's interrupted. What's the rule? Or, the most commonly used way in screenplays?

Someone said: "Just stop the sentence and end with three periods.":

JIM
I think you should try to...

HANK
(interrupts) You headbutted my sister so your argument is invalid!!!


...but someone else said "you should write the whole sentence, with the end within square brackets, so the actors can decide where and when to interrupt.":

JIM
I think you should try to... [talk to your dad about this issue.]

HANK
(interrupts) You headbutted my sister so your argument is invalid!!!

And, is it common to use (interrupts)? Thanks..

Hi Avlan - I've never seen the use of square brackets like this?


Also the 'interupts' but in brackets - I think that should appear as a wryly (if at all):


     Jim
I think you should try to --

     Hank
    (interupts)
You head-butted my sister!

Also, I wouldn't use ellipses here, as they generally indicate a tailing off of words, and the '-' or '--' indicated a 'harder' stop, like you've been interrupted.

JMO

Avlan

-- The dash indicates a sudden shift or break in thought. it is used when one character interrupts another, or shifts his thought. Or he is interrupted by a sound or action.

... the ellipsis is used for continuity... when a character speaks, then pauses, and then speaks again.

Try to avoid the (wryly) that`s an actor direction and try to keep those to minimum... actors are supposed to now how to act :)

Hope this helps

Mark

Lol! Some of reviews of my stuff have 'called' me out on the way I do it.

JIM

I think you should tr__

HANK

You head butted my sister!


I use ellipses for a trailing off as Mark said above. People have said my method is 'wrong' but it ain't to me!

This is one of the situations where I think wrylies are perfectly acceptable.  

           JIM
I really hate it when you...

           STEVE
        (interrupting)
Interrupt someone while they're talking?

It's telling one actor that they're cutting the other actor off.  Most actors would probably be able to figure that out on their own, but some may not.

Quoted from Nomad This is one of the situations where I think wrylies are perfectly acceptable.              JIM I really hate it when you...            STEVE         (interrupting) Interrupt someone while they're talking? It's telling one actor that they're cutting the other actor off.  Most actors would probably be able to figure that out on their own, but some may not.

Have to agree - could easily be interpreted as Jim stopping mid-sentence - may depend on the nature of the conversation - if lots of back and forth it may be quite clear anyway.

Quoted from irish eyes -- The dash indicates a sudden shift or break in thought. it is used when one character interrupts another, or shifts his thought. Or he is interrupted by a sound or action. ... the ellipsis is used for continuity... when a character speaks, then pauses, and then speaks again. Try to avoid the (wryly) that`s an actor direction and try to keep those to minimum... actors are supposed to now how to act :) Hope this helps Mark

Good information :) Learn something new everyday ...

Hah, thanks!

The -- is what I've seen in many scripts, now you've mentioned it, and I like it- in my mind it works as an abrupt stop, where ... means more of a fade, as a few of you suggest.

The [square brackets]-option was suggested to me (and my classmates) during actual screenwriting classes, but that's ok I guess; it has the same functionality. Nevertheless it's good to know how it's done in English screenplays, in case I ever have a go ;-)