bell notificationshomepageloginNewPostedit profile

Topic : Re: Dialogue from a distance How do I indicate dialogue 'from a distance'? Two characters and riding down a field on a quad bike, one asks a question of the other, who answers. They're visible but - selfpublishingguru.com

10% popularity

Get The Screenwriter’s Bible, it's the go-to for questions like this.

I've only studied screenwriting (I'm a novelist) and I've never sold one. But I would argue that you are trying to direct the scene, which is a no-no with screenwriting. Directors don't like to be told how to shoot their scenes.

Unless you have some absolutely crucial reason for why their lips must not be visible in this scene, I would write it like:

A grassy field extends to the horizon. In the distance, Bill and Ben ride quad bikes.

BEN
Dude, this is awesome!

BILL
I'm pooping my pants, man, quad bikes scare the crap out of me.

It's up to the director (and dictated by a number of factors like, the terrain of the location, the camera equipment available, etc. etc.) to decide how your scene is shot and whether to film them at a distance and use voice-overs or pan in for a close up.

But if you have good reason for directing how your scene should be shot, it may be worth editing your question to include that information.


Load Full (0)

Login to follow topic

More posts by @Heady158

0 Comments

Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best

Back to top