Identifying the Speaker
The character cue, also known as the character name, is a simple but essential formatting element in a screenplay. It is the name of the character who is about to speak, written in all capital letters and centered on the page above their dialogue. Its function is purely organizational: to clearly and unambiguously identify the speaker for the reader, the actors, and the production team.
This element should be consistent throughout the script. Once a character is introduced (typically with their full name in an action line), their character cue should remain the same. For example, if a character is introduced as ‘DETECTIVE MILES’, his cue should be ‘MILES’ for the rest of the script, not ‘DETECTIVE MILES’ in one scene and ‘MILES’ in the next. Consistency is key for a professional and easy-to-read screenplay.
Variations and Extensions
While the basic character cue is straightforward, there are a few standard variations used to provide additional context about how the dialogue is being delivered.
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(O.S.) - Off-Screen: This parenthetical is placed next to the character’s name when they are physically present in the location of the scene but are not visible in the camera frame when they speak. For example, a character shouting from another room.
MARTHA (O.S.)I'm coming, just a minute!
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(V.O.) - Voice-Over: This is used when the character’s voice is heard, but they are not in the scene at all. This is most common for narration, a character’s internal thoughts, or a voice heard over a telephone or radio.
RICK (V.O.)Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.
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(PRE-LAP): This indicates that a character’s dialogue from the next scene begins to be heard at the end of the current scene, creating a sound bridge that smoothly transitions the audience from one location to the next.