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Personal direction (also called “parentheticals”
or “wrylies”) should be used sparingly. It may be intrusive for a writer to suggest
how an actor should play a line. Indeed, some vagueness may even
be preferable, as it gives the actor and director some latitude to interpret
the emotional subtext. That being said, personal direction is
sometimes necessary to clarify the character's intent.
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Personal direction should
be treated as a separate element, placed on a line all to itself. As
with all screenplay elements, personal direction should not be centered
on the page. Instead, it should appear in its own margins,
approximately halfway between the margins for dialogue and the margins for
character cues. The standard setting puts the left parenthesis 3.6
inches from the left of the page. The text should wrap under the text,
not under the parenthesis. |
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FRANK
(the words catching
in his throat)
I knew him. We were in school
together.
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Personal direction should
be short, no more than a few words, and not a complete sentence. As such,
it should not have the first word capitalized (unless it’s a proper name),
nor should it end in a period. If the direction is long enough to
merit a complete sentence, then it should appear as an
action element. |
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Personal direction must
apply only to the character who is speaking. If it gives direction to
other characters, then it must be broken out as an action element.
However, another character’s reaction can be incorporated into some
personal direction if the speaking character is responding to it. |
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TYLER
A
Las Vegas showgirl in a string
bikini.
(off
Bruce's
incredulous look)
I swear!
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Use personal direction to
indicate a speech is continuing. When the same character speaks again
in the same scene following some action, it’s customary for the word
“continuing” to appear in parentheses on the next line after the
cue. |
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VALERIE
That's all right. I like that
you're, um... old-fashioned.
She puts her arms around his neck, kisses him softly.
Then shoves him away.
VALERIE
(continuing)
What's the idea of getting two
beds, anyway?
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It’s also acceptable to place
the word “CONT’D” in parentheses as an extension to the character cue, but
things can get messy if there’s already a “V.O.” or “O.S.” extension. |
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Use a parenthetical beat, not just an ellipsis, to indicate hesitation or an
adjustment in a speech. Personally, this reader prefers the use of
“(then)” instead of “(beat),” as it flows better and cues the actor that
this is an adjustment. |
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Song lyrics in dialogue should
appear in quotes under the personal direction "(sings)." |
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If some personal direction interrupts a line of dialogue, then the unfinished line should
trail off in an ellipsis. The line should pick up after the
parenthetical with an ellipsis, as well: |
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COACH STRAW
Tony, about my talk the other day,...
(beat)
... you are one of the young men I
think has potential.
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Under no circumstances should
ALL CAPS be used in personal direction. |
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Personal direction always
comes before a speech, never after. If a character performs
some action at the end of their speech, for example, it should be formatted as an
action element, not as personal direction. |
 
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