• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Screenwriting.io

Screenwriting.io

Answering basic questions about screenwriting.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index
Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only

How should you handle text messages (SMS) or instant messages (IMs) in screenplays?

Tagged: formatting, screenplay, screenwriting, script, scriptwriting, writing

There’s no standard rule for how one should format text messages or IMs in screenplays.

As with all formatting advice, any way you handle it is okay as long as your intention is clear and you don’t confuse the reader.

One simple way to handle text communication is to treat it like dialogue, but indicate that it’s different.

Nakul reaches for his phone.

[Note: Text messages are in italics.]

EMILY (TEXT)

It’s not stopping!

He picks up his pace, quickly thumbs a response.

NAKUL (TEXT)

Sit tight. OMW.

Ultimately, how these are handled will be up to the director, but if you want to suggest the messages be displayed on screen or read in voice over, you may choose to hint at that in the formatting.

More from johnaugust.com

  • Handling IMs in screenplays
  • Formatting text shown on screen
  • Handling dialogue-like situations

More from screenwriting.io

  • What does "Off him..." mean in a screenplay?
  • How do I describe a scene when some of the action…
  • What does OOV mean?

Answer Index

script scriptwriting screenplay screenwriting formatting terms film structure presentation business writing software TV WGA Final Draft length guild characters credits FDX FDR union scene headings dramatic theory outlines adaptations arbitration producers fountain highland pdf managers Celtx guru Movie Magic agents rights pitching awards short film iPad iPhone festival directors musical

Primary Sidebar

Switching from Final Draft to Highland 2

Switching from Final Draft
to Highland 2 – Get the PDF

© 2021 Screenwriting.io — All Rights Reserved.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index