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Handling dialogue-like situations

June 9, 2005 Formatting, QandA

questionmarkI’m writing a screenplay where a magical typewriter communicates to people by typing them messages. Nothing verbal. Since this will be a selling script is ok to put in a note saying this, then proceed as…

TYPEWRITER

Hi John, how are you today?

Or is there another way to do this? This type of communication will exist through the entire story.

— Harry
Detroit

Since the typewriting is “speaking” dialogue, your way is fine. If it only happened once or twice in the script, I would be tempted to put the typing in boldface, centered on the page. But that would get really annoying, really quick. For what you’re attempting, faux-dialogue is best.

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