There are a few ways to handle a large group talking simultaneously, depending on the situation. If the group is a constant background noise that is part of the setting, they can be written into the scene description: INT. CONVENTION HALL – DAY The massive room is packed full of Browncoats, BUZZING about all things […]
What is the proper way to label dialogue spoken by a group of characters?
When multiple characters are speaking the same dialogue simultaneously (as opposed to [two characters speaking different dialogue at the same time](https://screenwriting.io/how-do-you-format-two-characters-talking-at-once/)), you will usually handle it with slashes. HOSTESS/WAITER/CHEF Welcome to Jurassic Pork! There are times where alternatives are also acceptable. If there is a singular label that clearly expresses who is speaking, for instance, […]
How do you format two characters talking at once?
When two characters are talking at the same time, it is referred to as “dual dialogue,” and the two speakers’ text blocks go side-by-side. Most screenwriting programs have an option for this. In [Final Draft 8](https://screenwriting.io/what-is-final-draft/), for instance, if you type the dialogues normally with one below the other, highlight both, and select Format –> […]
How do I deal with a group of characters?
When you have a group of characters that are together throughout a majority of a movie, or even just a bunch of consecutive scenes, it’s fine to refer to them collectively: “The four of them walk to the building.” If intervening scenes don’t feature the group, it’s a good idea to mention the characters each […]
What is a protagonist?
In middle school English classes, we learn that “protagonist” is a fancy word for “main character” or “good guy.” In film terms, this isn’t always the case. The protagonist is the person who changes over the course of the story. Often, this is the main character. It is very common for this person to be […]
How do you deal with a character speaking in a different language?
John August [has this advice](http://johnaugust.com/2003/foreign-languages): * If it’s just a word here and there, and the meaning is obvious in context, don’t bother translating it. An example is when a ubiquitous foreign bad guy shouts at his men to do something. Since it doesn’t really matter what he’s saying, just use the foreign word if […]