Character & Dialogue Skill
Invocation Triggers
Apply this skill when:
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Introducing characters
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Writing dialogue blocks
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Formatting character names
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Handling dual dialogue
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Using character extensions
Character Name Format
Basic Format
Character names must be:
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ALL UPPERCASE
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On their own line
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Preceded by a blank line
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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
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Use sparingly
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Brief direction only
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Lower case
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On own line within dialogue block
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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
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Use for overlapping speech
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Second character gets the ^
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Both should be roughly equal length
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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
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Age range, not exact age
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Brief physical impression
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One character-defining detail
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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
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Pick one name, use it consistently
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Avoid switching between SARAH/MS. CHEN/SHE
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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
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Keep lines speakable (read aloud)
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Break at natural breath points
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One thought per line when possible
Subtext
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Characters rarely say exactly what they mean
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Let action contradict words
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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
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Character names in UPPERCASE
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Blank line before character names
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No blank line between name and dialogue
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Extensions in (PARENTHESES)
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Parentheticals are brief and necessary
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Mixed-case names use @ prefix
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Dual dialogue uses ^ on second character
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Character names are consistent throughout