Screenplay format guide
How to Write a Phone Call in a Screenplay
To write a phone call in a screenplay, decide what we see. If we only see one side, write the scene normally and mark the other voice (V.O.). If we see both, give each place its own scene heading, write INTERCUT, and play the call as normal dialogue. Examples and a live formatter follow.
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INT. MARCO'S CAR - NIGHT
Marco drives one-handed, phone to his ear.
INT. POLICE STATION - SAME
Detective Owusu answers at her desk.
INTERCUT - MARCO / OWUSU
OWUSU
You said you would come in at noon.
MARCO
I said I would think about it.
OWUSU
(standing)
Where are you right now?
Marco glances at the rearview. Headlights. Close.
MARCO
Somewhere I should not be.
Write your own
Type in plain text. A name in caps right above a line becomes dialogue, and lines starting INT. or EXT. become scene headings.
INT. MARCO'S CAR - NIGHT
Marco drives one-handed, phone to his ear.
INT. POLICE STATION - SAME
Detective Owusu answers at her desk.
INTERCUT - MARCO / OWUSU
OWUSU
You said you would come in at noon.
MARCO
I said I would think about it.
OWUSU
(standing)
Where are you right now?
Marco glances at the rearview. Headlights. Close.
MARCO
Somewhere I should not be.
How to use it
- 1
Decide what the audience sees: one side of the call, or both.
- 2
One side only: stay in that scene and mark the other voice with (V.O.) if it comes through the phone.
- 3
Both sides: give each location its own heading once, then write INTERCUT and play the call as normal dialogue.
Which phone call format do I use?
| We see | Other voice | Headings needed |
|---|---|---|
| One side only | (V.O.) on their cue | 1, the scene we are in |
| One side, silent caller | No voice, pauses in the dialogue | 1 |
| Both sides | No extension, both on screen | 2, then INTERCUT |
How do you write a phone call where we hear one side?
If we stay with one character, write the scene as usual and let the other person speak as a voice through the phone. Their cue gets the extension (V.O.), for voice over, because they are not in the room. Some writers use (O.S.) or (ON PHONE) instead. All three are understood, but (V.O.) is the most common choice for a filtered voice.
You can also play only one side of the call, with no voice at all, and let pauses in the dialogue tell us the other person is talking. It is a strong choice when the listener is the one under pressure.
How do you write a phone call with INTERCUT?
When we cut between both callers, establish each place with a full scene heading first. Then write INTERCUT, or INTERCUT - MARCO / OWUSU, on its own line. From there the dialogue runs normally with no extensions, because both people are on screen.
INTERCUT tells the reader the editor will cut back and forth however it plays best, so you do not need a new heading for every switch. You can still drop in action lines for either side, as long as it is clear whose side we are on.
When the call ends, hang up in the action and move to the next scene heading. If you stay in one location, a line like END INTERCUT or BACK TO MARCO keeps it clear.
What about video calls?
Video calls follow the same logic: if we see the other person on a screen, describe that in action and use (V.O.) or (ON SCREEN) for their voice. For text messages there is a separate set of habits, covered in the text message guide.
More from the format guide
- How to Write a Montage in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Flashback in a Screenplay
- How to Write Text Messages in a Screenplay
- Dual Dialogue in a Screenplay
- Voice Over in a Screenplay: V.O. Narration
- Screenplay Transitions: CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO
- How to Introduce a Character in a Screenplay
- How to Use Parentheticals in a Screenplay
- How to Write an Intercut in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Title Card in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Series of Shots in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Flash Forward in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Dream Sequence in a Screenplay
- Smash Cut: What It Is and How to Write One
- O.S. in a Screenplay: Meaning and Format
- How to Write a Pre Lap in a Screenplay
- Subtitles in a Screenplay: Foreign Dialogue
- How to Write a Split Screen in a Screenplay
- How to Write Slow Motion in a Screenplay
- How to Write a Freeze Frame in a Screenplay
- How to Write Song Lyrics in a Screenplay
Questions writers ask
How do you write a phone call in a screenplay?
If we see one side, write the scene normally and give the other voice (V.O.). If we see both, give each location a heading, write INTERCUT, then play the dialogue straight.
What does INTERCUT mean in a script?
It tells the reader the film cuts back and forth between two places that are already established, so you do not repeat scene headings every line.
Is a phone voice V.O. or O.S.?
Most writers use (V.O.) for a voice coming through a phone, because the person is not in the scene. (O.S.) means someone is physically nearby but off camera.
How do you end an intercut?
Have someone hang up in the action and go to the next scene heading, or write END INTERCUT if you stay in one of the locations.