Character & Dialogue Skill
Invocation Triggers
Apply this skill when:
- Introducing characters
- Writing dialogue blocks
- Formatting character names
- Handling dual dialogue
- Using character extensions
Character Name Format
Basic Format
Character names must be:
- ALL UPPERCASE
- On their own line
- Preceded by a blank line
- Followed immediately by dialogue (no blank line)
SARAH
Hello, John.
Character Extensions
Extensions appear in parentheses after the name:
| Extension | Meaning | When to Use |
|-----------|---------|-------------|
| (V.O.) | Voice Over | Character narrating or not in scene |
| (O.S.) | Off Screen | Character in scene but not visible |
| (O.C.) | Off Camera | Same as O.S. (alternate) |
| (CONT'D) | Continued | Same speaker after action interruption |
| (PRE-LAP) | Pre-lap | Audio starts before scene |
| (INTO PHONE) | Delivery | Speaking into phone |
| (INTO RADIO) | Delivery | Speaking into radio |
| (SUBTITLE) | Translation | Foreign dialogue translated |
SARAH (V.O.)
I never should have trusted him.
JOHN (O.S.)
Sarah? Are you home?
SARAH
In here!
She turns toward the door.
SARAH (CONT'D)
I wasn't expecting you.
Forcing Mixed-Case Names
Use @ prefix for names that aren't all caps:
@McCLANE
Yippee ki-yay.
@DeVITO
Don't start with me.
Dialogue Format
Basic Dialogue
SARAH
This is a line of dialogue. It can
span multiple lines naturally.
Dialogue with Parenthetical
SARAH
(hesitant)
I don't think that's a good idea.
JOHN
(laughing)
You always say that.
(serious now)
But this time I agree.
Parenthetical Guidelines
- Use sparingly
- Brief direction only
- Lower case
- On own line within dialogue block
- Don't overuse - trust actors
Good parentheticals:
(whispering)
(to John)
(beat)
(re: the gun)
(into phone)
Bad parentheticals (avoid):
(angrily, as if she can't believe what she's hearing)
(walking across the room and picking up the vase)
Dual Dialogue (Simultaneous Speech)
Characters speaking at the same time:
JACK
I love you!
JILL ^
I hate you!
The ^ after the second character name triggers side-by-side formatting.
Dual Dialogue Guidelines
- Use for overlapping speech
- Second character gets the
^ - Both should be roughly equal length
- Don't overuse - can be hard to follow
Character Introduction
First Appearance Format
When a character first appears, their name is typically CAPITALIZED in action:
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
SARAH CHEN (30s, sharp eyes, perpetually exhausted)
sits alone at a corner table.
Introduction Best Practices
- Age range, not exact age
- Brief physical impression
- One character-defining detail
- Active description when possible
Good introductions:
JOHN MARCUS (40s, ex-military bearing, softened by life)
DETECTIVE PARK (50s, seen too much, says too little)
YOUNG SARAH (8, all skinned knees and fierce determination)
Avoid:
SARAH, a beautiful woman in her 30s, enters. // "beautiful" is vague
JOHN is tall with brown hair and blue eyes. // casting details
Character Consistency
Naming Rules
- Pick one name, use it consistently
- Avoid switching between SARAH/MS. CHEN/SHE
- If character is known differently by different people, pick one for script
Exception Patterns
// Character is introduced under false identity
STRANGER (later revealed as JOHN)
Nice to meet you.
// Later, after reveal
JOHN
Sorry about the deception.
Dialogue Best Practices
Line Length
- Keep lines speakable (read aloud)
- Break at natural breath points
- One thought per line when possible
Subtext
- Characters rarely say exactly what they mean
- Let action contradict words
- Use pauses and silence
SARAH
I'm fine.
She stares out the window, knuckles white on her coffee cup.
Avoiding "On the Nose"
Instead of:
JOHN
I'm angry because you betrayed me and now I can't trust you.
Try:
JOHN
(quiet)
I think you should leave.
Validation Checklist
- [ ] Character names in UPPERCASE
- [ ] Blank line before character names
- [ ] No blank line between name and dialogue
- [ ] Extensions in (PARENTHESES)
- [ ] Parentheticals are brief and necessary
- [ ] Mixed-case names use @ prefix
- [ ] Dual dialogue uses ^ on second character
- [ ] Character names are consistent throughout