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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Screenwriting Class  /  Formatting Dialogue Covers
Posted by: BradH, December 27th, 2021, 1:45am
I want to cover some of the dialogue in a scene with other (probably silent) scenes as the character is talking.  Those scenes will show action that contradicts what the character is saying.

Format guides I’ve found online indicate I should script those cutaway scenes like they’re regular scenes, but as you’ll see in the example below it’s kinda clunky and breaks up the flow.  

It gets even more challenging when one of the cutaways is actually in the same basic location as the dialogue, because technically the Character is now O.S., not V.O.

Since we never really leave the main dialogue scene, it feels like the standard scene location and action lines don’t really convey the right feel.  Is there any other acceptable way to format this that would break up the dialogue less?  
Your thoughts?!
(This isn’t the actual scene; just a simplified one to illustrate the issue.)


EXT.  CHARACTER’S HOUSE - DAY

Character and her mom roll her luggage down the driveway to Character’s car.                         

                         CHARACTER
               Don’t worry,  I’ll be fine.  I’ll stay on the interstate,
               and drive the speed limit.

INT.     JOE’S GARAGE — SAME
               
Joe is passed out drunk, an empty at his feet, and tools scattered about.
     
                         CHARCATER (V.O.)
               Joe is going to check my car first to make
               sure it’s good for the  trip.

EXT.      CHARACTER’S HOUSE - SAME

On the front lawn, 4 year old Jamie runs for a ball and crashes into a small tree.

                         CHARACTER (O.S.)
               Jamie does great without supervision, so you’ll
               have nothing to worry about.

INT.     ANGIE'S KITCHEN - SAME
          
Angie struggles to open a frozen burritos.
     
                         CHARACTER (V.O.)          
               And Angie is going to cook  a bunch of
               homemade meals for the road.

EXT.  CHARACTER’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Character hugs mom goodbye.
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