Texting Script 101: How to Write Text Messages in a Screenplay

Master the art of weaving text messages into screenplays to enhance storytelling, character depth, and plot dynamics. This article will discuss how screenwriters write a text message in screenplay format and understand a few techniques that will help you become an expert at screenwriting text messages.

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_{Key Takeaways}

• Texting's role in modern storytelling.
• Techniques for script formatting and character identification.
• Creative display methods for on-screen texts.
• Examples from films and TV.

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_{Text Messaging in Award-Winning Screenplays}

‍In the critically acclaimed film Her, text messaging is used to depict the protagonist's evolving relationship with an AI. This showcases how texting can add layers to character development and plot dynamics. Similarly, in Sherlock, rapid-fire texts visually displayed on-screen mirror Sherlock's quick thinking, adding a modern twist to the classic detective story.

_{The Role of Text Messages in Modern Storytelling}

Texting has become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a primary mode of interaction in personal and professional contexts. In screenwriting, text messages offer a unique narrative device that can add depth, authenticity, and immediacy to the story.

_{1. Mimicking Real-Life Communication}

Text messages in screenplays mirror the way people communicate in the real world. This inclusion helps the audience relate to the characters and their situations more closely.

_{2. Advancing the Plot}

Strategic use of texting can propel the story forward, reveal crucial plot points, or create suspense without overt dialogue or action.

_{3. Character Development}

Texting styles can reflect a character’s personality, background, and current emotional state, offering subtle clues to the audience.

_{4. Time and Space Flexibility}

Text messages can bridge scenes and time gaps efficiently. They enable writers to convey information that would otherwise require more elaborate setups.

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_{How to Write Text Message in a Script}

Text messages in a screenplay are more than just dialogue; they're a visual and narrative element that requires careful consideration. Here's how to effectively incorporate them into your script:

_{1. Formatting Text Messages}

Unlike traditional dialogue, text messages should be formatted to visually stand out. This could mean using a different font, italics, or placing them in boxes to distinguish them from the rest of the script.

_{2. Character Identification}

Each text message should clearly indicate the sender. This can be done by placing the character's name above the message or using different alignments for different characters.

3_{.Brevity and Clarity}

Text messages are typically short and to the point. Your script should reflect this natural brevity, ensuring that each message is clear and concise.

_{4. Integration with Action and Dialogue}

Text messages should flow seamlessly with the surrounding action and dialogue. They should add to the scene, not disrupt it. Consider the timing of when a message is read and the reactions it elicits.

_{5. Visual Representation}

Decide how text messages will be visually represented on screen. Will they pop up as graphics, or will the audience see the phone's screen? This decision can impact how you write these messages in the script.

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Advanced formatting for text messages can vary from using different fonts to visual bubbles. In House of Cards, texts are shown as clean, sleek pop-ups, reflecting the show's modern, high-stakes political drama. This contrast to more traditional displays in sitcoms underscores the versatility of text messaging in different genres.

Learn more: What is a Feature Film?

_{How to Write a Text Message in a Screenplay}

Text messages in a screenplay can be a powerful tool for character development and plot advancement. Here's how to maximize their impact:

_{1. Revealing Character Traits}

Texting style can reveal a lot about a character's personality. Are their messages short and curt, or long and eloquent? Do they use emojis or slang? These choices can give insight into the character's age, background, and temperament.

_{2. Conveying Emotional States}

The content and tone of text messages can effectively convey a character's emotional state without direct dialogue. A sudden change in texting style can hint at emotional shifts, conflicts, or realizations.

_{3. Unspoken Dynamics}

Texting allows you to explore relationships and dynamics between characters without overt conversations. Subtext in messages can hint at hidden feelings, tensions, or alliances.

_{4. Plot Progression}

Strategic text messages can introduce new plot elements or twists. A single message can change the course of the narrative, create suspense, or resolve conflicts.

_{5. Internal Conflict and Decision-Making}

Characters' responses (or lack thereof) to texts can showcase their internal conflicts and decision-making processes, adding depth to their character arcs.

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Learn More: What is Post-Production in Filmmaking

_{How to Write Text on Screen in Screenplay}

Screenwriters have a range of creative techniques at their disposal to display text messages in a screenplay. This part of the article explores some innovative methods:

1. Split Screen Technique: This technique allows the audience to see both the sender and receiver simultaneously, creating a dynamic interaction.
2. Text Bubbles on Screen: This method makes the conversation part of the scene's action, keeping the viewer connected to the characters' environment.
3. Narrative Voice-overs: Using voice-overs for text messages adds an auditory dimension to the texting experience. It can be particularly effective in conveying the emotional tone behind the words.
4. Interactive Graphics: Advanced graphic techniques can animate text messages, making them more visually appealing and engaging. This method can be particularly effective in genres like comedy or romance.
5. Augmented Reality Style: Portraying text messages in an augmented reality style, where they appear to float in the character's space, provides a futuristic and high-tech way of showcasing texts.

_{Example of Texting in Popular Films and TV Shows}

The final part of our article explores how texting has been effectively used in various films and TV shows, offering insights and inspiration for screenwriters:

1. Contemporary Dramas: Many modern dramas use texting to reflect real-life communication, adding authenticity and relatability to their narratives.
2. Thrillers and Mysteries: Text messages in thrillers often serve as pivotal plot devices, delivering clues, creating suspense, or revealing twists.
3. Romantic Comedies: In rom-coms, texting often facilitates the initial spark between characters, serves as a comedic element, or helps advance romantic plots.
4. Teen and Young Adult Series: Texting is a staple in these genres, reflecting the communication style of younger generations. It’s used to develop character relationships and drive the storyline.
5. Science Fiction and Fantasy: Even in genres set in different worlds or times, texting or its equivalents can ground the story in a form of communication familiar to the audience.'

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_{Voices from the Industry}

_{Closing Thoughts}

The integration of text messages in scripts is not just a skill to be mastered but an opportunity to connect with audiences on a deeper level. The key is to use texting in a way that feels authentic and integral to the story, ensuring it complements rather than overshadows the narrative.

We encourage aspiring and seasoned screenwriters to experiment with these techniques and find their own unique ways of weaving text messages into their storytelling tapestry. Remember, in the world of screenplay writing, innovation and authenticity are your greatest tools.

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^{About RFM}

RFM is a web-based video, TV, and film production management software that offers various features for professionals in the entertainment industry. It allows users to write professional project briefs and descriptions, talent, and actor showcases, visualize scenes with shot lists, media sharing and manage various aspects of production, including call sheets, shooting schedules, and script breakdowns. RFM is designed to help teams collaborate more effectively during the production process, making it a valuable tool for filmmakers, photographers, and video production companies