I'm not really finding an answer to this so I thought I'd ask here. I'm writing a scene where my main character is watching a chat show on TV. What is being discussed on the show reflects what the character is going through and has some influence on what he does next regarding his situation. My question is what is the correct way to write this scene? I need the audience to see/hear what is being said so should I write the chat show scene as a separate scene or is it acceptable to write it into the scene of the character watching the tv? I'm just a bit unsure as to the right way to go about it. :-)
Screenwriting : Minor scene issue by Rachel White
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I'd write the chat show scene in the scene of the character watching TV, Rachel White. Something like:
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Kelly lies on the sofa, writing a letter. An energetic chat show HOSTESS (30s) and a stressed-out GUEST (30s) are on TV.
HOSTESS
Dialogue (what Kelly is dealing with).
Kelly sits up quickly, eyes the screen. Locked in on what the hostess is talking about.
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Thank you Maurice Vaughan that's very helpful! It's not one I've tried to write before so I was wracking my brains a bit!
You're welcome, Rachel White. Glad it's helpful.
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The TV chat show will have to be filmed so in your writing mention TV SHOW so it's clear what's happening in the character's home and what is being viewed on TV.
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Rachel White The Children of Men (Cuaron & Sexton) has a good version:
INT. CAFE -- DAY
Men and women standing, looking up. Sad and hopeless. Their middle-aged faces bathed in the pale light of the television they are silently watching.
TV VOICE
Baby Diego was killed in a bar fight in Buenos Aires after refusing to sign an autograph...
A man enters the coffee shop, making his way through the people: THEO FARON (55). Detached, unkempt, scruffy beard, glasses, Theo is a veteran of hopelessness. He gave up before the world did.
TV VOICE
He was born in 2005, the son of Marcello and Sandra Ricardo, a working class couple from Buenos Aires....
Theo wedges his way to the counter. He orders:
THEO
Coffee. Black.